The first day of Carolina Panthers 2019 minicamp was highlighted by two things: Quarterback Cam Newton throwing publicly for the first time since his 2018 shoulder injury and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy practicing for the first time as a Panther.
“As I said, this is just the first step of many,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “We're really looking forward to tomorrow to see how much more he’s going to do.”
Newton threw very little and very lightly. He only threw around 20 stationary passes with coaches and didn't throw anymore passes after the team's practice drills.
"There is a vast inventory of plays you can use," Rivera said. "You really use them based on a game plan. As we start game-planning there will be wrinkles to what we allow him to do."
McCoy began to settle in with his new teammates after signing a week ago. McCoy lined up alongside the projected 3-man front with Kawann Short and Dontari Poe in practice drills and could be seen asking many questions about the schemes with defensive line coach Sam Mills III.
“It was different because I’m so used to knowing where to go and where to be and knowing what’s coming,” McCoy said. “I haven’t played football since January. A little rusty. And then learning the new scheme, trying to get my technique right, doing what I’ve been doing for the last nine years and putting it all together. But overall, it was a solid day.”