There has been plenty of speculation regarding the health of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Fortunately, offensive coordinator Norv Turner appears to be optimistic about his status for the 2019 NFL season.

Newton has spent the offseason healing from shoulder surgery. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Turner has enjoyed watching his quarterback return to form:

“He’s really attacked this rehab, and he’s done everything he could possibly do physically to get back to where he is with the shoulder,” Turner said. “The rehab’s gone great. Obviously, part of it he did on his own, a big part of it, before we got back. But since April 20 or so, when we got back, he’s been totally engaged, both physically and mentally. It’s been fun to watch him. He’s very serious about the rehab, but he’s been Cam. Everyone likes being around him. He brings energy every day, and he’s very helpful with the young quarterbacks.”

This is certainly an encouraging update on Newton's health. The coaching staff may not have been happy when a video of him throwing had recently surfaced. Regardless, he appears on track to be fully healthy for the start of next season.

It is no secret that the shoulder injury had plagued Newton throughout the 2018 campaign. Not only did it take a toll on his throwing ability but on the offense as a whole. The Panthers eventually found themselves relying much more on running back Christian McCaffrey than they would have liked. Fortunately, a healthy Newton will allow Turner to use a more balanced approach moving forward.

There are still questions remaining about whether or not he will ever return to his MVP-caliber form. It is safe to say that his performance will dictate Carolina's playoff status moving forward. The onus will ultimately fall on Newton to prove the doubters wrong in 2019.