No one in the Carolina Panthers’ organization — not owner David Tepper, nor coach Ron Rivera nor quarterback Cam Newton, himself — can say with certainty what this offseason will bring for Newton’s surgically-repaired right shoulder. Not publicly, at least.
What Tepper has made clear, however, is the team is not zeroing-in on Newton making a full recovery before the 2019 season begins. Call it preparing for the worst, if you will.
The Panthers’ owner said he doesn’t know if Newton will require his second shoulder surgery since 2017 this offseason, but priority number one is getting him back on the field.