Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton was not sighted at practice Wednesday, according to ESPN’s David Newton. Newton is under the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head in the Panthers’ division loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The 2015 Most Valuable Player left Sunday’s game after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on a successful two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. Newton did not return the game. Newton’s status is unknown for Week 5’s divisional meeting with Tampa Bay, but he does get an extra day to recover because Carolina plays on Monday night. The sixth-year QB has only missed two games in his career. The Panthers’ official injury report will be released Thursday.
Fantasy Impact: This is not a good sign for Newton’s fantasy owners. Since he is under the NFL’s concussion protocol, it is anyone’s guess if he will be able to play at home against Tampa Bay on Monday. Given his physical resilience, it is still likely Newton will play. Should he be a scratch though this week, Derek Anderson will get the start.