The primary concern for the Carolina Panthers throughout the NFL preseason has been the health of star quarterback Cam Newton.

With Newton recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, the Panthers brass wasn't sure how quickly he could get back on the field or whether he would be 100 percent once cleared. Head coach Ron Rivera just put any doubts to rest with the season opener approaching, via ESPN's David Newton.

“I think he's ready,” Rivera said. “You wish he'd had a few more snaps and played a little bit earlier in the preseason so we'd have more to go on. But what we saw, we liked.

“We liked how everything seems to be meshing together as an offense. We'll see how it goes as we continue to work this week.”

Related NewsArticle continues below
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales with QB Bryce Young and a silhouette of an American football player with a big question mark emoji inside. There is also a logo for the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina Panthers 3 best trade targets to round out 2025 roster
Tetairoa McMillan, Jordan Brand, Panthers
Jordan Brand signs Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan walks across the stage after being selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26.
Dave Canales’ ‘smooth’ review of Tetairoa McMillan will get Panthers fans hyped

In Week 1, the Panthers will go head-to-head against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium with Newton apparently expected to be under center for Carolina. Newton's presence gives the Panthers a decisive advantage against the rebuilding 49ers who will almost certainly struggle to contain the former NFL MVP if he's truly healthy and ready to go as Rivera suggests.

Carolina will be looking to rebound this season after a disappointing 2016 campaign. The Panthers finished dead last in the NFC South last season with a 6-10 record after making it all the way to the Super Bowl the previous year with one loss.

San Francisco could be a tune-up game of sorts for the Panthers as they try to get their offense back on track with Newton under center and a promising young rookie coming out of the backfield in Christian McCaffrey