Panthers' Cam Newton: Expected to be ready by Week 1

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said he has no doubt Newton (shoulder) will be ready for the season opener, NFL.com reports.

Analysis:

The Panthers entered this offseason with the expectation Newton would avoid surgery on his partially torn right rotator cuff, but he's now scheduled to have an arthroscopic procedure March 30. He's tentatively scheduled to begin an individual throwing program 12 weeks after the surgery, with a return to throwing in a team setting expected at the 16-week mark. The timeline rules him out for the offseason program and leaves his training camp availability in serious question, but it should allow the 27-year-old quarterback to be ready by Week 1.