Newton cautions shoulder is ‘work in progress’

SPARTANBURG, S.C. » Cam Newton said like many Carolina Panthers fans, he also breathed a sigh of relief after uncorking a 45-yard pass completion to wide receiver Curtis Samuel on the first day of training camp.

But the Panthers quarterback cautioned that his rehab from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder remains “a work in progress.”

“I don’t want people to assume, ‘Oh, Cam is back,’” Newton said Thursday. “I’m doing a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that I’m able to practice and to practice with the capabilities I know I can and the team expects me to.”

The Panthers are taking a cautious approach with the 30-year-old quarterback so far.

He’s been held out of team drills three times in eight days as trainers look to ease him back into action and not overload his shoulder. On Thursday Newton didn’t do throw at all and had an ice bag on the shoulder for a portion of practice, although coach Ron Rivera said it was planned day off for his QB.

The 2015 league MVP struggled last season with shoulder problems, preventing him from throwing more than 20 yards downfield and forcing him to miss the final two games.

The Panthers don’t want to find themselves in a similar situation this season.

So even though Panthers quarterbacks coach Scott Turner said last week Newton had “no limitations” at training camp, it’s pretty clear the plan is proceed with caution.

Newton, entering his ninth season, said he’s fine with that.

Early in his career he would refuse to take a day off from practice, but his philosophy has changed.

“One thing I wanted to work on was being honest with myself, knowing when my body is talking to me, knowing that it’s OK to sit out a practice,” said Newton, who has been hit more than any other QB since coming into the league in 2011, according to ESPN Stats and Information. “I’m at a point in my career now where I’m as hungry as ever, but I have to be smarter than ever.” KALIL COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN JETS » Ryan Kalil wasn’t done playing football, after all.

The five-time Pro Bowl center snapped out of retirement Thursday and agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the New York Jets.

The 34-year-old Kalil, who started every game last season for Carolina after playing just six in 2017 because of a neck injury, will need to pass a physical Friday before signing his contract with New York.

Financial terms weren’t immediately available. NFL Network reported the deal is worth $8.4 million.

Kalil spoke all last season about it being his final one as

a player. He walked away from the game when his contract expired after 12 NFL seasons — all with the Panthers.

He apparently had a change of heart in recent weeks and is expected to anchor an offensive line that had a question mark at the center position. Jonotthan Harrison had been slated to start, but he has been mostly a backup during his six-year career.

Coach Adam Gase had recently raved about Harrison and his work with quarterback Sam Darnold, but the Jets decided to upgrade.

It’s the first major acquisition by new general manager Joe Douglas, who was hired in May to replace the fired Mike Maccagnan.

The former USC star was a second-round pick of Carolina in 2007 and quickly became one of the NFL’s top centers. He was selected to the Pro Bowl from 2009-11 and in 2013 and 2015.

Kalil was a two-time AP All-Pro pick, starting 145 of 148 regular-season games during his time with the Panthers. KICKER DAWSON RETIRING AFTER 20 YEARS » Kicker Phil Dawson has retired from the NFL at age 44 after 20 seasons.

He spent his first 14 seasons with the Browns and will sign a one-day contract to ceremonially retire with the franchise. Dawson played in 305 games — the seventh most in league history — and ranks 11th with 1,847 points.

He says the “opportunity to come back home and retire with the organization and the city that I love is incredibly meaningful.” He adds that it “seems right” to do this with the “fans that have been so good to me and my family.”

A Pro Bowl selection in 2012, Dawson began his career with Cleveland’s expansion team in 1999. He joined the 49ers as a free agent in 2013 and played with the Cardinals the last two seasons.