Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has decided to undergo surgery on an ankle injury that he picked up at the end of last season.

Newton suffered the injury in a week 16 victory over the New Orleans Saints but was still able to play against the Atlanta Falcons in the final match of the regular season as well as in the NFC divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

However, the 24-year-old has not recovered as quickly as the Panthers had hoped, prompting them to send him in for surgery tomorrow in order to prevent further injury.

"The ankle was sore after the San Francisco game and we wanted to see if rest would calm it down, but it is still bothering him and the decision was made to address it," Panthers head trainer Ryan Vermillion said in a team release.

The procedure is expected to rule Newton out for four months, meaning that he will miss minicamps in May and June but should be back in time for training camp at the end of July.