Kelvin Benjamin Comments on Recovery from Knee Surgery, Panthers OTAs

It would be hard for the Carolina Panthers to do better next season than their 15-1 mark in 2015, though the return of star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin will help the offense and reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton immensely.   

A first-round pick in 2014, Benjamin caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. He missed all of Carolina's run to Super Bowl 50 after tearing the ACL in his left knee during a practice last August. 

Eight months removed from the injury, Benjamin told the Panthers' official website Tuesday he's not concerned about making any cuts on his surgically repaired knee: "Whatever the route is, I try to trust in the process that we have been doing, the rehabbing. So I just go ahead and make that plant."

Benjamin added that it felt "great to get back out" with his teammates in OTAs.

"It still sucks that I can't be in doing the plays and competing," he said, "but it still feels good to be out." 

There is a difference between being in great shape and being in great football shape, with Benjamin noting he's "not where [he wants] to be" in terms of conditioning. He also said he's "going full speed" on his knee.

"You can't really hold back," he said. "If it gives out, it gives out. I just trust in the rehab that we did, and I feel good about it."

He will have a full preseason to get back in the swing of things and avoid any potential letdown when the regular season starts on Thursday, Sept. 8, against the Denver Broncos in a Super Bowl rematch.

Despite coming off a major knee injury, Benjamin did say he was not going to be wearing a brace because he feels it's just "a mind thing."

The Panthers will certainly be hard-pressed to improve on their offensive performance from last season, when they led the NFL with 31.3 points per game. Benjamin understands duplicating that output will not be simple even with him back in the fold:

"

We can't count eggs before they hatch. I think it will definitely be good having me back. We are going to pick up where we left off. Guys played tremendous (last year) - Ted (Ginn), (Devin) Funchess, Philly (Brown), all those guys. They were a big part of this last year. I want to come back in and be a part of it.

"

Newton is the key to making Carolina's offense run. The quarterback accounted for 4,473 yards (3,837 passing, 636 rushing) and 45 touchdowns (35 passing, 10 rushing). His ability to make plays with his arm and his legs proved to be difficult for NFL defenses until the Super Bowl. 

Yet Benjamin seems to be underselling his importance to the equation. He's not a blazing-fast runner (4.61-second 40-yard dash), but opposing secondaries don't have a matchup for a wide receiver who is 6'5" and 240 pounds. His ability to create plays in traffic and jump over cornerbacks gives Newton more freedom in the pocket. 

The Panthers aren't likely to go 15-1 again because only seven teams in NFL history have won at least that many games during the regular season, but Benjamin's return will make them even more dangerous because of his size on the outside. 

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.