MOBILE, Ala. The Panthers again are staying in-house to fill a coaching position.

Coach Ron Rivera is expected to hire Ken Dorsey, one of the team’s pro scouts, as his quarterbacks coach, a source with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.

Dorsey, 31, joined the scouting department two years ago after working with former Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke at IMG Academy, where they trained Cam Newton during the lockout before Newton’s rookie season.

Dorsey is the winningest quarterback in University of Miami history, posting a 38-2 record and leading the Hurricanes to the 2001 national title. Dorsey, drafted in the seventh round by San Francisco in 2003, was 2-11 as a starter with the 49ers and Cleveland. He also played with Toronto in the CFL in 2010.

The Panthers promoted three assistants last week – offensive coordinator Mike Shula, receivers coach Ricky Proehl and special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers. They also re-hired running backs coach Jim Skipper, who was on John Fox’s Panthers’ staff for nine years before spending the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Rivera talked to Turner: Rivera said Tuesday he reached out to Norv Turner about becoming his offensive coordinator, but the wheels were already in motion that would take Turner to Cleveland as part of Rob Chudzinski’s Browns’ staff.

Rivera and Chudzinski worked for Turner in San Diego before coming to Charlotte two years ago. When Chudzinski left for his first head-coaching job in Cleveland two weeks ago, Rivera called Turner, who had been fired after six seasons in San Diego.

But Chudzinski and the Browns were one step ahead.

“He and I did talk. We talked about the opening. One thing he told me was he had a lot to think about,” Rivera after a Senior Bowl practice. “I had heard that (Browns CEO) Joe Banner called him directly during that whole process. That’s the hard part because you don’t know when or what went on in that conversation.”

Turner ended up going to Cleveland and was joined by his son, Scott, who left his job as the Panthers’ offensive quality control assistant to become the Browns’ receivers coach.

“Obviously, they had a jump on us and probably had already laid the groundwork, as far as I knew,” Rivera said.

Extra points: Panthers special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers said he’s not giving up on punt returner Joe Adams, last year’s fourth-round pick who was plagued by fumbles as a rookie. Rodgers said Steve Smith also struggled to hold on to the ball as a rookie returner.

“At this level, everyone’s trying to get the ball, and he has to understand that everyone’s after it and it’s important for him to secure the ball,” Rodgers said. … Rivera said linebacker Jon Beason had successful shoulder surgery this month after undergoing knee surgery in the fall. Beason has played in only five games since signing a five-year, $51.5 million contract extension before the 2011 season.