Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton will miss Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering two fractures in his lower back in a car accident Tuesday afternoon.
The news comes on the same day the NFL announced that Newton was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for leading Carolina to a 41-10 win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday. Newton passed for 226 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 83 and a score.
Newton was not at fault in the two-car crash according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police department. After spending a night at the Carolina Medical Center, Newton was discharged Tuesday morning.
This will be the second start of the season for Anderson, the journeyman quarterback and former Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals starter. Anderson led the Panthers to a 20-14 win over the Bucs on opening day while Newton was nursing some cracked ribs, passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Webb will be his backup.
At his Wednesday press conference, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Newton’s status would be a “week-to-week thing.” River spoke with Newton Tuesday.
“More than anything in true Cam fashion, he’s disappointed for his teammates,” Rivera said. “He feels like he’s letting everybody down, but thank goodness it wasn’t serious for him or the other driver. We’ll worry about him getting healthy. We’re very fortunate and he’s very fortunate.”
According to Rivera Netwon’s injury is similar to the one Tony Romo suffered against the Redskins on Oct. 27. Romo only missed one game. Newton’s fractures are in different areas of the lumbar vertebrae and the word from Panthers athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion is the only way to heal it is with time.
“There’s nothing else we can do,” Vermillion is quoted on the Panthers’ website. “It’s pain management. We’ll do treatments to help with pain. And it’s just time.”
