SPARTANBURG https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Cameron-Artis-Payne-Jersey , S.C. (AP)Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted a photo of himself earlier this week on Instagram sitting at a card table with a stack of poker chips in front of him that read: ”I’m BETTING EVERYTHING on ME!”It’s just one of several recent posts by Newton, most of which include him working out or showing off his chiseled six-pack abs.The league’s 2015 MVP enters his eighth NFL season anxious to push the Panthers deeper into the playoffs after an 11-5 regular season ended with a first-round playoff loss to New Orleans last season.Newton was in a jovial mood Thursday night as the team held its first training camp practice at Wofford College as new owner David Tepper looked on from the sideline. The quarterback led ”the wave” with the crowd and laughed it up with teammates during breaks in practice.”It’s just nice to see him be Cam and have a lot of life and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said on check-in day on Wednesday. ”When he’s like that, he’s at his best.”It helps that Newton doesn’t have to worry about rehabbing an injured shoulder as he did last summer.Newton missed all of minicamp and OTAs in 2017 after rotator cuff surgery on his throwing shoulder following the 2016 season. He was back to throwing at training camp last year, but developed soreness after five practices.Not wanting to chance any setbacks, the Panthers only allowed Newton to throw two passes in the preseason games.Newton made it back for the start of the regular season and played in all 16 games. He struggled statistically, completing just 59.1 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but it’s difficult to pin that on Newton or his shoulder.Injuries to the offensive line and wide receiver position often left the former Heisman Trophy winner running from defenders after being flushed out of the pocket, desperately trying to find an open option.Panthers general manager Marty Hurney addressed the need for playmakers at the wide receiver position this offseason by trading for Torrey Smith, signing free agent Jarius Wright and drafting rookie D.J. Moore in the first round.”I thought you saw a lot of energy out of our offense in minicamp,” Hurney said. ”You just don’t know, but you want to see it come together.”Newton is also adapting to a new offensive scheme after the Panthers fired Mike Shula and replaced him with Norv Turner. Running back Christian McCaffrey said Turner and Newton ”have really bonded” so far this offseason.”Cam’s been throwing it really well. He has been making great reads and I think he’s just as excited as anybody for the season,” McCaffrey said.Coach Ron Rivera said what excites him the most about Newton is the simple fact that he’s healthy and, as Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess said, ”is ready to rock.”That has allowed him to work through some of the intricacies of Turner’s offense during OTAs and minicamp.”Going into this camp https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/J.J.-Jansen-Jersey , I think we’re already ahead with him,” Rivera said.Newton didn’t talk to reporters following the completion of the team’s first practice at Gibbs Stadium, instead spending time signing autographs before heading in for team meetings. But he did post ”you know I’m ready” in a recent Instagram video.”I think that’s the understatement of the year to say that him being out there makes a big difference, right?” said Olsen, who missed more than half of the 2017 season with a foot injury.”Just his presence on the field. Having a full OTAs and minicamp with him and then getting some work done with him this summer and just seeing how good he’s feeling and moving around and training and throwing a lot, and now being able to do a full training camp – those are all stark contrasts with where we were at this point last year. One would hope that that’s a good sign for us.”Newton is betting on it.— CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals had limited their first two opponents to 141 rushing yards. That made what happened in their third game all the more surprising.Christian McCaffrey ran for a career-best 184 yards and the Panthers piled up 230 yards on the ground and got two rushing scores from Cam Newton on Sunday in a 31-21 victory .“This is a different style of offense and attack and you’ve got to adjust and morph and play it and make sure we stay sound in it and play it all the time,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “We had moments where we played it perfectly. Then we had others where we didn’t.”The Panthers gouged the Bengals with runs up the middle by McCaffrey, who ran free at times behind an offensive line beset with injuries.“They switched up some run fits that we weren’t expecting,” Bengals defensive tackle Andrew Billings said. “They did a few misdirection plays, screens, throw backs, nothing that we shouldn’t have stopped. We just have to get better defensively and executing.”Still, Cincinnati’s struggles against the run should be of some concern heading into next Sunday’s game at Atlanta, which traditionally has one of the best running games in the NFL behind running backs Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman — although Freeman has missed the last two games with an injury.“They caught us in a couple bad positions and made plays https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mike-Adams-Jersey ,” said Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap. “This is the NFL and their players are going to make plays, too. You have to eliminate as many of those you can. We did not do a good job of that today.”Some things to know from Carolina’s win over Cincinnati:SAFETY HELP NEEDEDThe Panthers felt the loss of injured starting strong safety Da’Norris Searcy, as fill-in Colin Jones, a special teams regular, was beat on two touchdown passes . Jones was replaced by rookie Rashaan Gaulden in the fourth quarter and he could be the starter coming out of the bye week if the Panthers don’t add a veteran safety.“Colin Jones is a very physical player, a downhill player and Gaulden has some athleticism and range,” coach Ron Rivera said. “We decided down the stretch we were going to give Gaulden some opportunities.”Searcy is on the IR after sustaining two concussions in five weeks.ACTION JACKSONThe Panthers said right away they felt like they landed a big-time player when they drafted speedy cornerback Donte Jackson in the second round, and he’s proving GM Marty Hurney correct.Jackson has three interceptions in the last two games, including two Sunday.“I was like, ‘I appreciate you (No.) 14,” Jackson said of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. “He was being very generous out there.”Jackson’s pick at midfield with 3:33 to play set up Graham Gano’s 40-yard field goal to make it a 10-point game and seal Carolina’s win.BOYD FILLS THE VOIDWith A.J. Green sitting on a cooler on the sideline nursing a groin injury in the second half and the running game sputtering, the Bengals’ turned to receiver Tyler Boyd. Boyd did his part, finishing with 132 yards receiving and a touchdown.He found open space when the play broke down, and Dalton found him.“It’s backyard football,” said Dalton https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , who threw for 352 yards and two scores but was intercepted four times. “Go get open. He did a great job . and made plays.”Boyd’s 27-yard score in the third drew Cincinnati to within 28-21. He also had a 49-yard catch for the game’s longest play.“We work on the scramble drill,” Boyd said. “When I see him rolling out, I have to find the open space on the field. Andy (Dalton) did a great job escaping the pocket and finding his wide-open target.”Green said after the game he expects to play against Atlanta on Sunday, but Lewis said it’s too early to know if his star receiver will be ready.NOT SO STELLAR DAYS: Giovani Bernard had different results last time Cincinnati played Carolina. Bernard rushed for an 89-yard score and a career-best 137 yards in 37-37 tie. On Sunday, he had 61 rushing yards and a score on 12 carries as the Bengals focused mainly on their passing game.“When those opportunities come, we have to capitalize on them,” Bernard said.PAVING THE WAYHaving three starters out on the offensive line didn’t prevent the Panthers from moving the football on the ground. In fact, the Panthers thrived, averaging 5.6 yards per carry .“Honestly it doesn’t really matter for us whether people are praising us or calling us a makeshift offensive line,” said center Ryan Kalil. “We have to go to work, and we have to do our job. I’m very happy with the guys we’ve got in the group.”Panthers tackles Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams are on the injured reserve, while guard Trai Turner is out with a concussion. Tyler Larsen stepped in for Turner for the second straight week, while Chris Clark and Taylor Moton started at tackle. Cam Newton was sacked once.