SPARTANBURG, S.C. _ Panthers fans, rest easy: the plan for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is still a go.
Newton had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in January to help alleviate some of the shoulder tightness and stiffness he experienced last season, and the team has long maintained that Newton would be a full participant in training camp. Newton threw some at mandatory minicamp in June, but training camp will be crucial both for developing camaraderie with his pass-catchers and for continuing to learn Norv Turner's offense.
During move-in day at Wofford College on Wednesday, coach Ron Rivera confirmed Newton will be able to participate in training camp, even if Rivera hadn't yet spoken to head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion.
"We believe he's ready to roll," Rivera said. "We have a plan. Obviously, it's gonna be structured around our installation, so based on the things that we have going on with our install, (that) will dictate what he does. All of his reps will be monitored, they'll be scripted out, and we'll follow that pattern as we go through it."
Rivera said that he, Turner and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner recently sat down to discuss the plan for Newton during camp. That conversation included coming to the decision that Newton's reps would be managed and tracked, similar to the "pitch count" he was on during the latter half of 2018.
As far as details go with how far will Newton be allowed to throw during camp and what his preseason looks like, the answer to those questions will be revealed in time.
The team won't rush Newton back before he's ready, something they are especially conscious of after the way he responded to his last shoulder surgery in 2017. That was to repair a partially-torn rotator cuff, and the lingering effects of that surgery were the reason for Newton's "cleanout" procedure in January to clear scar tissue and cartilage buildup.
For now, expect Newton to participate in the team's first training camp practice Thursday evening, as well as throughout the next three weeks.
"They're going to pay attention to the reps and see how he is the next morning every day," Rivera said. "He had a good offseason, he had a good break from what we're being told, and again, the proof will be in the pudding."
