Cam Newton ahead of schedule

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is ahead of schedule since undergoing surgery on his left ankle.

Newton is already back in passing drills and is expected to be recovered by training camp.

"Real sluggish,'' Newton told Carolina reporters. "My mind was moving faster than my body, but that comes with time. Excited to get back out there. Not 100 percent yet, but any progress is good progress.''

According to reports, he completed 8 of 15 passes with one interception.

He operated out of the shotgun formation. He should be back under center in late July.

'That's not a problem for me,'' Newton said. "I'm feeling better than I thought I would at this point looking at the calendar. Right now it's trying to get 100 percent.''

Panthers coach Ron Rivera is encouraged.

"It was exciting to watch Cam get his first throws with some sort of team activity,'' Rivera said. "He was a little high, a little eager. He talked about feeling like he'd been cooped up and finally getting a chance to spread his wings a little bit.

"Made some good decisions. Made the right reads. Just didn't deliver the ball where he needed to. That will come with time. The healthier he gets, the better he gets, the more he'll be in tune with what he needs to do.''

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

Aaron Wilson
Aaron Wilson covers the NFL for National Football Post, his second stint at the Post. He has previously written for Pro Football Talk and FOX Sports-Scout. Entering his 13th year covering the Baltimore Ravens, he's a beat writer for The Baltimore Sun. Wilson has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

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