After winning the NFC title before losing Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos two seasons ago, last year didn’t go according to plan for the Carolina Panthers.

While former Auburn QB Cam Newton dealt with injuries most of the season, the team struggled its way to a disappointing 6-10 record.

Newton had surgery on his rotator cuff during the offseason and hasn’t been cleared to throw yet, but Carolina quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey told ESPN.com that Newton has still been at every single OTA session and is working hard at the things he can do:

“He’s as dedicated a guy as I’ve been around in terms of his work ethic,” Dorsey told ESPN.com. “He’s really underrated for a lot of that stuff, too. The preparation he puts in during the season, the offseason … he’s worked extremely hard — especially in this situation — understanding he’s not going to get those physical reps.

“So he’s doing everything he can to stay up to speed.”

If the Panthers are going to turn things around in 2017, a healthy Cam Newton is going to be incredibly important.

It sounds like Newton is eager to get back into the mix, but Dorsey and the other Carolina coaches would be wise to try to move slowly with him as he attempts to work his way back to full strength.