Report: People close to Cam Newton ask him to play more cautiously after concussion
Multiple members of Cam Newton’s “inner circle” have encouraged him “to play more carefully” after he was concussed in last week’s game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Newton was concussed in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ loss to the Falcons and will miss Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers.
“Those close to Newton have urged him to get down, out of bounds or into the end zone quicker than he did last week, when he allowed the Falcons a free shot at him,” Schefter reports, “and he has acknowledged the message and said he will do a better job of protecting himself when he can, sources said.”
Newton also took several blows to the head in the season opener against the Broncos. He appeared dazed after one hit in the final minute but was not pulled from the game for medical evaluation, leading the NFL and NFLPA to launch separate investigations into whether the league’s concussion protocol was properly applied.
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Newton has only missed two other games in his NFL career, both against the Bucs in 2014. He missed Week 1 that year with a rib injury and was sidelined in Week 15 after being injured in a car accident. Derek Anderson got the start on each occasion and Carolina won both games.
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