Panthers' Cam Newton to undergo shoulder surgery

Cam Newton's repeated beatings have seemingly caught up to him.

The Panthers quarterback is scheduled to undergo shouldersurgery that will keep him sidelined during OTAs, the team announced Tuesday.

Newton, who is slated to have the procedure on his throwing arm March 30, is expectedto be rehabilitated and ready to returnforthe start of training camp in July.

"We developed a plan for Cam to take a period of rest, a period of rehabilitation and treatment, and then start a gradual throwing program the first part of March,"head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion told the team's website. "Cam started his program, and the early parts of his rehab had been going well.

"However, as we worked to advance him into the next stage —the strengthening stage, the throwing stage —he started to have an increase in his pain level and started having pain while throwing. As a result, Dr. Pat Connor (head team physician) felt the most prudent procedure would be to arthroscopically repair the shoulder."

Newton suffered a partially torn rotator cuffagainst the Chargersin Week 14 of last season. Although he didn't miss any time, the Pantherslimited hisactivity as the season neared a close and Carolina failed to make the playoffs one year after falling to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

"It is well-documented and well-researched that overhead-throwing athletes commonly have wear and tear to their rotator cuffs,"Vermillion said. "As a result of the MRI, we modified all of Cam’s work in the weight room and on the field for the final three weeks of the season."

In addition to Newton, defensive end Charles Johnson (back) and wide receiverDamiere Byrd (knee) are also scheduledto have surgery and be ready in time for camp.