SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- For quarterback Jake Delhomme and the Panthers, health was a big issue last season.  The injury-depleted team finished with a disappointing 7-9 record and went through four different quarterbacks.

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The fiery veteran Delhomme went down with an elbow injury that almost ended his career in the third week against rival Atlanta.  This was terrible news for the organization and for fans as the team appeared to be clicking early-on, especially the offense which looked to be explosive.

With a promising record of 2-1, Delhomme started out scorching hot with a quarterback rating of 111.8, 624 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception; ranking among the top five quarterbacks in the NFL. 

After the injury, Delhomme's three succeeding teammates had an average quarterback rating of 65.26 and the team's record was 5-8. 

Delhomme then underwent Tommy John surgery in October and his surgically repaired right elbow is now a question mark for the upcoming season; however, Jake said he's "feelin’ good."

"The last few years after the first practice I iced right away," Delhomme said.  "Today I just walked past the trainer and I didn't even think about going to put ice on my arm."

Coach John Fox said that Delhomme will be limited throughout training camp but so are the rest of quarterbacks in the NFL. 

"In camp you don't want to overwork your quarterback, you don't want to overwork anybody," Fox said.  "His arm is healthy and we're going forward, business as usual.  Our medical people have said he's healthy, and like a pitcher in baseball you don't overthrow 'em.  We won't do that with our quarterback, never have."

The 10-year man admitted that he missed the feel of the game while he was hurt and that something was bound to happen to his elbow, it just happened to be last season.

"I had a little release that I could get my elbow fixed at a young enough age to where I could still get after it for some years after that.  It was real big for me," Delhomme said.  "But I never had an injury where I had to miss a lot of time -- you miss it."