Carolina Panthers

The Panthers still haven't ruled out Cam Newton for Week 5 despite concussion

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:01 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

A reasonable person might come to the conclusion that Cam Newton will be unavailable for Monday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Panthers coach Ron Rivera, however, the team has yet to make that decision.

Newton has missed practice all week and remains in the concussion protocol after suffering a legal hit to the head during Carolina's Week 4 loss to the Falcons, but Rivera wants to see how his QB feels this weekend before ruling him out.

Via NFL.com:

If Newton is unable to play, 11-year veteran Derek Anderson would take his place in the starting lineup. In the past six years, Anderson has averaged just over 20 attempts -- not per game, but per season. The bulk of those came in 2014, when he helped the Panthers to a 2-0 record as a starter, completing 67 percent of his 97 total passes for 701 yards, 5 TDs and no INTs.

While Newton's potential availability is a bit of good news for a Carolina team that needs to get back on the right track, it unfortunately wasn't the only update for the Panthers QB. According to ESPN.com, Newton was fined $9,115 this week for taunting Falcons LB Deion Jones — the same player who delivered the hit that resulted in Newton entering the concussion protocol in the first place. That's very nearly the definition of adding insult to injury.