Cam Newton has been down this road before. The Carolina Panthers quarterback had shoulder surgery before the 2017 season — but not until March, and he was on a strict pitch count upon his return — so he knows how to handle the rehabilitation process.

So far, he looks well ahead of that 2017 pace.

Newton didn’t do any team work, so developing timing with his receivers, backs, and tight ends will be paramount at camp. Coach Ron Rivera has been pleased with the progress.

“[Timing] is always a work in progress, and that’s kind of what happens when you don’t go through a spring,” Rivera said, via TheAthletic.com. “But again, he’s had a good offseason. He’s done everything the trainers and doctors have asked of him, and he’s still got a little bit more work to go over the next 4 1/2, 5 weeks.”

Newton has displayed a new throwing motion as the team live streamed his throwing sessions during minicamp. The new form is much more compact than the old one, releasing the ball right overtop of the shoulder and drawing power from his entire upper body to reduce strain on his right shoulder.

Early reviews have been mostly positive about the change, including from Newton's backfield teammate Christian McCaffery.

“As far as his throwing motion goes, I have no idea. Looks good to me,” McCaffrey said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “He throws the ball and he’s been throwing it well.”

McCaffrey said the team “feeds off” the excitement Newton shows when he’s on the field. With a (hopefully) fully healthy Newton this fall, the Panthers should be ready to roll this season.