Cam Newton to undergo shoulder surgery

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will undergo surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, the team announced Tuesday.

Newton suffered the injury during a Week 14 game against the San Diego Chargers last season.

“It is well-documented and well-researched that overhead throwing athletes commonly have wear and tear to their rotator cuffs,” team 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.”

The Panthers were just 5-8 after their Week 14 win over the Chargers and had virtually no shot at making the playoffs, so you have to wonder why the team bothered having him play down the stretch.

“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 added. “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.”

Even if Newton’s shoulder was showing signs of improvement and team doctors felt he might be able to avoid surgery, it’s fair to question the decision to play him in meaningless games. Now, the quarterback will have to wait at least 12 weeks before he begins throwing exercises again and 16 weeks before he can throw with the team. If all goes to plan, he should be back for the start of training camp in July.