Cam Newton's rehab from an arthroscopic procedure in January, his second in less than two years, appears to be ahead of schedule.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback has progressed to throwing overhand with a regulation-sized football, a source confirmed to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The Charlotte Observer first reported the development.
Newton was absent this week from Panthers OTAs due to personal reasons, but generally had been in attendance. The QB had not thrown overhand in front of reporters during offseason workouts since his surgery.
This news jives with NFL Network's Tiffany Blackmon's report from Wednesday that Newton was doing "everything" in regards to throwing the football.
"The drills that Cam is doing when it comes to just throwing the football, he's able to do everything," Blackmon said on NFL Total Access. "In addition to that, he's working off on the side. He's doing exercises to strengthen that repaired shoulder. He's also doing that footwork. So he's working his way back into things.
"He's progressing well enough that they want to see exactly how he feels at the end of OTAs and then they're going to make a decision as to whether or not he does anything during minicamp. But from what I have been told he looks to be ahead of schedule right now."
To have Newton back by minicamp on June 11 would be a boon for the Panthers, who, as of last week, were "very optimistic" that their franchise quarterback would be ready to start throwing by training camp in late July.
Panthers owner David Tepper told Rapoport last week that Newton was "doing different types of training" in his rehab and that "the new-and-improved Cam will be better than he ever was."
Perhaps we'll get our first glimpse a month earlier than expected.
