Carolina Panthers announce QB Cam Newton to undergo surgery
By Will Ogburn
Published:
According to an official report by the Panthers, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL MVP Cam Newton is among those due for offseason surgery.
Newton’s procedure is to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder due to an injury he suffered in a Week 14 win against the Chargers.
From that Panthers’ statement:
“It is well-documented and well-researched that overhead throwing athletes commonly have wear and tear to their rotator cuffs,” head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion said. “As a result of the MRI, we modified all of Cam’s work in the weight room and on the field for the final three weeks of the season.”
“We developed a plan for Cam to take a period of rest, a period of rehabilitation and treatment, and then start a gradual throwing program the first part of March,” Vermillion said. “Cam started his program, and the early parts of his rehab had been going well. However, as we worked to advance him into the next stage – the strengthening stage, the throwing stage – he started to have an increase in his pain level and started having pain while throwing.
“As a result, Dr. Pat Connor (head team physician) felt the most prudent procedure would be to arthroscopically repair the shoulder.”
Despite the injury, Newton played out the remainder of the season but has now taken the time to undergo a procedure that will help him in the long term.
Panthers believe Cam Newton's March 30 rotator cuff surgery will sideline him about four months.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2017
Though this procedure is serious enough to put him on the shelf for “about four months”, the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to make a recovery by training camp.
A former resident of both Baton Rouge and the heart of Crimson Tide country, Will Ogburn handles multimedia content and news coverage for Saturday Down South.
