Panthers quarterback Cam Newton hasn’t expressed much concern about what the team’s new-look receiving corps will be able to achieve on the field this season, but the fact that he’s been rehabbing from ankle surgery this spring has meant that he’s had less time to work with those receivers on developing the chemistry they’ll need come the fall.
Newton is still recovering from the surgery, but he’ll be able to mix in some work with one of those receivers between now and training camp. Newton and first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin will both be in Charlotte for four weeks heading into training camp this summer and coach Ron Rivera says that the two of them will be working together during that time.
“The nice thing is Cam will be around,” Rivera said, via the Charlotte Observer. “I know the two of those guys will be working on developing that rapport, which I think is important.”
Benjamin specifically mentioned working on the timing for fade routes with Newton, a play that could be a big one for the 6-5 wideout when the Panthers get into the red zone this season. One play alone won’t make a passing offense, of course, but the Panthers need to start somewhere and getting their quarterback and most promising wideout on the same page seems like a pretty good place to do it.