Newton throws in practice for 1st time since shoulder surgery

Cam Newton appears to be right on track.

In what can be considered an incredibly positive development in his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery, the Carolina Panthers quarterback resumed throwing passes in practice Wednesday.

After not throwing during OTAs, this marks his first team-drill activity since undergoing the procedure on a partially torn rotator cuff in March.

"Another step in the process,'' Newton said, according to David Newton of ESPN. "It's a start. Everything felt good, but we have a long way to go to get where I know we can be. Tonight was just fun getting out on the grass in front of the fans and throwing it around a little bit."

The Panthers can be expected to work their star signal-caller back into the mix slowly, and it would certainly be understandable if it took him a few weeks to find his rhythm.

Being able to participate in passing drills so early in camp, however, is another indication he's well on his way to being ready for the beginning of the regular season.

Newton will enter the 2017 campaign looking to bounce back from a frustrating year in which he completed just 52.9 percent of passes for 3,509 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

Anything close to his MVP form from the year prior, where he accounted for a total of 45 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, would go a long way toward the Panthers' chances of making a swift return to the playoffs.