Cam Newton Likely Out of Action on Sunday After Car Accident
The Carolina Panthers will be preparing to face NFC South rivals the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without Cam Newton, their first team quarterback, which is the second time that has happened this season.
When the two teams played during the first week of the season Newton  was sidelined with fractured ribs. Derek Anderson the backup played allowing Newton an additional week to heal.
Newton was involved in an auto accident on Tuesday in Charlotte suffering transverse process fractures to his lower back. His vehicle rolled a number of times in the accident.
His injury is similar to one Tony Romo the Dallas quarterback suffered earlier in the season against Washington.
When Romo was hurt, he sat out the following week’s game versus Arizona. Team officials at Charlotte were not optimistic about Newton’s chances of playing this week.
Where the injury is quite different from the situation with Romo is that Newton runs much more often at quarterback than does Romo.
He has been hit more than twice as much as any other NFL quarterback, since entering the league back in 2011.
The read option has become a big part of Newton’s game for the Panthers.
In Sunday’s victory against New Orleans, Newton rushed the ball 12 times for 83 yards.
With the condition Newton is in, it would be hard to fathom any team putting in that number of plays designed for runs.
There likely will be no option for Newton anyway. He was kept overnight Tuesday in the hospital under observation.
How he will be Wednesday, much less on Sunday is unknown at this point.
It is not even known what day he will leave the hospital.
Carolina does not have days to wait. Despite its 4-8-1 record the Panthers are just a half game behind both New Orleans and Atlanta at 5-8, for the lead in the NFC South with three games left to play.
Carolina must plan for Newton not to play. Anderson is a solid backup. This season he has 230 yards passing and two touchdowns.
Carolina must win its remaining three games to have any shot at winning the NFC South and a trip to the postseason.
They also need their top quarterback on the field, as he had his best game all season against New Orleans.
However, Newton’s status is unknown and risking him this weekend might not be the best of ideas, as the team needs him for the long haul not just this season.
The person in the car involved in the accident with Newton was also transported to the hospital but with injuries that are not life threatening.
