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Looking Good: If summer-school sessions are any indication, Panthers' Delhomme is ready to go
AP Photo
Jake Delhomme, who has been the starting quarterback for the Panthers since 2003, appears to be close to recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Published: June 13, 2008
CHARLOTTE
Another phase in Jake Delhomme's comeback from arm surgery is complete.
The Carolina Panthers concluded three weeks of voluntary workouts yesterday, and Delhomme came away from the sessions with no setbacks, and plenty of optimism.
"I feel great," Delhomme said yesterday. "I feel ready to go."
The next phase will start on July 25 when the Panthers open training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., and then it will be full go in preparation for the regular-season opener at San Diego on Sept. 7.
Delhomme, the Panthers' starting quarterback since shortly after he arrived in 2003, suffered a season-ending arm injury last September in the third game of the season at Atlanta. He underwent what is commonly referred to as Tommy John Surgery on Oct. 17, and has been rehabilitating with trainer Ryan Vermillion and staff since then.
Delhomme was limited to a few passes daily when the summer-school sessions (OTAs) started. But for the four sessions this week, he was back in the mix regularly, throwing the ball with zip and accuracy. And no pain.
"All along we had a comfort level, but we like what we saw," Coach John Fox said. "His arm's strong, as strong as ever, and he's rehabbing well. I think he'll be as good as new when we start camp."
Receiver Muhsin Muhammad said that he thought the Panthers' decision to limit Delhomme's throwing at minicamp in April and early in the summer sessions "built a lot of hunger in him. He's had probably one of the best camps I've seen him have."
Muhammad, who re-signed with the Panthers after spending the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears, said it was Delhomme's accuracy and command that have impressed him the most.
"I can't really pinpoint exactly where the strength in his arm is other than to say that he told me he feels great," Muhammad said. "That's what I have to go by. But if you want to talk about accuracy, Jake has been putting the ball on the money. Not very many balls hit the ground in our seven-on-seven drills. He put the ball right where it needs to be.
"I think at this point, that's the most important thing. Are you putting the ball on the money, and are you going to the right guy with your reads? That's more important than how hard you're throwing the ball right now."
Delhomme said that the biggest benefit of these voluntary workouts was that he got to work his way back in at a good pace. The Panthers took the weekends off, so Delhomme could rest the arm; in training camp, the Panthers will practice every day, and twice daily every other day.
"The good thing about this was it's only the fourth day, and then I'm off," he said. "We all know in training camp it's going to be back to back to back and there will be soreness at some point. Will I have a pitch count in camp? I'm sure I will, because it's probably the smart thing to do. But that's part of it and I'm fine with that.
"If there isn't soreness in my arm at some point, I'm probably not putting in enough effort, because that strains you. I will have soreness. But if it's normal soreness, then everything's on track. I feel like everything's on track."
Delhomme said he was encouraged by what he has seen of the Panthers' offense during these sessions.
Running back Jonathan Stewart, the team's top draft pick, didn't participate because of school obligations and is still rehabbing from toe surgery. But everyone else was here. That includes Muhammad and D.J. Hackett, receivers signed to complement Steve Smith.
"I think weapon-wise, we've got some pretty good weapons," Delhomme said. "Steve is back. Getting Moose back is huge. Seeing D.J. Hackett, and Dwayne Jarrett is very talented -- I think we improved the offense. I like what I've seen. I like it a lot."
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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