Newton: Shoulder 'better than I thought it would be' after surgery

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton underwent shoulder surgery last week after his 2018 season was shortened, and he gave a positive recovery update on Wednesday.

"It's good. It's good,'' Newton said during an appearance on 680 The Fan in Atlanta. "It's better than I thought it would be. With so much going on throughout this season, I was in fear to see what actually was wrong.''

The arthroscopic procedure on Newton's throwing shoulder came after the 2018 season. The 2015 MVP and three-time Pro Bowler completed 67.9 percent of his passes during the campaign for 3,395 yards and 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He also added 488 yards and four scores as a rusher, leading the Panthers to a 6-8 record over his 14 starts.

The poor passing production compared to his career numbers was the result of an injury that bothered him for much of the season.

"I knew something was wrong. For me, being in that position, I didn't want to let my team down," Newton said. "I didn't want to let my fans, or even myself down to a degree. There's a benchmark that you set for yourself, and when it's not met, you're frustrated. Obviously, this year was frustrating."

Newton was forced to sit out Weeks 16 and 17 while backups Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen made their first career starts.

The Panthers' plan is for Newton to be throwing again by the start of organized team activities in May.

- With h/t to Panthers.com

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