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C am Newton’s timetable is right on track. Just like it has been.

After undergoing ankle surgery in March, the Panthers’ quarterback has been expected to return in full for training camp at the end of July. But that’s a lot of time to fill with handwringing over a franchise’s most important player.

And even though a helmet-less Newton surprised Ron Rivera with 3- and 5-step drops during light drills with receivers, it’s not like the head coach had anything new to report after the Panthers first minicamp practice Tuesday.

“He did a little bit more than I thought he would, but he’s right on schedule. He’s progressing very well,” Rivera said. “We aren’t going to force any issue with him. He did today what he was supposed to do.”

Last month, the positive-thinking Rivera raised some eyebrows when he left open the possibility for a Newton comeback this week, which would have been more than a month earlier than expected. And even though Rivera said “there was an outside chance” the fourth-year quarterback could have practiced in full, rushing his return never seemed all that realistic.

“We are in the last curve and I am just trying to be smart about it, do everything that the trainers ask of me and more and see where that gets me,” Newton said.

At least the admittedly “bored” quarterback had a new friend to keep him company.

“I was excited, because of my man, G-square,” Newton said, referring to George Gring, a player the Panthers signed in the morning.

If you haven’t heard of Gring, here’s a primer: He’s a 4-foot-2 rising first-grader from Houston. The six-year-old not only held a post-practice press conference, but he also banged the “Keep Pounding” drum with linebacker Thomas Davis in the afternoon.

Last November, while the two wrestled, George’s dad noticed a hard spot around his son’s stomach. It was diagnosed as Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a cancer that often affects the lower abdomen.

While George underwent treatment that included two surgeries and five rounds of chemotherapy, he made a request through the Make-A-Wish-Foundation. His wish was to play with Newton as a member of the Panthers.

After throwing in some Skittles and KitKats to the deal George signed Tuesday, the team gave him a locker and a jersey. But the biggest perk came from Newton, who asked sponsor UnderArmour to send in a special pair of gold cleats.

Wearing matching shoes, the two walked into practice a few minutes late. But when you’re hanging out with the team’s most important player, you can get away with a few things.

“Anytime as a player, as a role model, as whoever, you get a chance to give back and make somebody’s day, man, I’m all for it,” Newton said. “He lightened my day up for it to be such a monotonous process for me coming out and pretty much doing nothing.”

ESPN cameras captured George’s day for a feature that will air next month, around the same time Newton takes the field in Spartanburg. Just like the plan has been since March.

Until then, Newton will have to settle for making kid’s days and tossing some passes in light drills for two more practices.

“It’s kind of fun to watch him at times when you just know he’s bursting to get out here,” Rivera said. “At the same time, then the realization that he feels that ‘Hey, I can’t do that, I have to be smart about it.’ He’s going through a great process right now, and I think he’s really learning and growing from this situation.”

SEE MORE PICTURES AND READ PLAYER BREAKDOWNS FROM TUESDAY’S PRACTICE

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