Cam Newton has undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his right shoulder, the Carolina Panthers announced on Thursday.
Quarterback Newton missed the final two games of the regular season having played through soreness until his team were virtually eliminated from playoff contention.
A statement released by the Panthers revealed team physician Dr. Pat Connor performed the procedure, though they did not outline a timetable for Newton's recovery.
Connor also repaired Newton's partially torn rotator cuff in the same shoulder in March 2017. The 2015 NFL MVP did not throw in offseason workouts after the operation, with the team also limiting his activity during preseason.
There had been speculation whether the 29-year-old would require surgery for a second time.
Cam Newton undergoes arthroscopic procedure on shoulderhttps://t.co/FFdToTVfdK
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 24, 2019
Panthers owner David Tepper told the Charlotte Observer earlier in January that the team must be prepared in case Newton is not 100 per cent for the start of the 2019 season.
"We've got to make sure we have our options open in all ways possible, just in case. We're all hoping everything will be great - and it could be great. Look at [Andrew] Luck this year. Who knows?" Tepper said.
"If you told me that [Newton] took a year off and could be fully recovered and everything else and that's what it took, an extra year, why wouldn't you do that?
"Now, we would have to do other things and we'd have to go out and get another quarterback, which, if you could find me some more cap space, I'd appreciate that."