Rivera: Newton will be involved in Panthers OTAs despite shoulder surgery

A recent shoulder surgery will keep Cam Newton from throwing for the next few months, but the Carolina Panthers should still have their star quarterback on the field during spring workouts.

Head coach Ron Rivera explained at the owners meetings Monday that, aside from making passes, Newton would be doing anything he can to participate in OTAs.

"He'll be able to do a lot with the exception of throwing," Rivera said, according to David Newton of ESPN. "Everything we do, he'll be involved."

Newton not being able to take full quarterback reps until training camp stands as a setback for the early stages of Carolina's offseason program. The team leader avoiding an outright absence, though, can at least help maintain some semblance of continuity for the offense.

As for the questions surrounding the timing of the procedure, Rivera confirmed that the decision was made as a result of the soreness that persisted after an initial plan of non-surgical rehab.

"And he had been having such a good offseason, and then it just plateaued, I guess," Rivera said. "So there was a little thought, 'Now is a good time if any if we're going to do it.' So that's what they decided."

Newton will be looking to bounce back from a frustrating 2016 season, which saw him complete just 52.9 percent of passes for 3,509 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.