Carolina Panthers quarterback Can Newton remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and his status won't be firmed up until late this week, according to coach Ron Rivera.
The reigning NFL MVP didn't practice Thursday but does have an extra day to recover with the Panthers playing on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton suffered a concussion during Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Rivera said Newton will start if he has gone through the protocol and is cleared to play.
"I'm going to listen to exactly what I'm told," Rivera said. "That's the thing I want everybody to understand. I'm going to do exactly what the doctors, the professionals, the people that study this, tell me. Then I'm going to look to the young man. I'm going to treat him exactly like I treated Luke Kuechly (last season)."
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Kuechly, the team's top defensive player, missed three games last season after suffering a concussion.
Rivera and the Panthers are also under scrutiny. The NFL and NFL Players Association are investigating Carolina's actions in terms of whether or not the in-game protocol was followed when Newton was the recipient of several blows to the head in the season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos.
Rivera emphasized the decision on Newton isn't his to make.
"We follow the protocol," Rivera said. "We've never had any issues with following the protocol. We're not forcing players to get onto the football field. We'll do exactly as the protocol tells us, and the doctors and the experts tell us."
Backup Derek Anderson will start Monday's contest if Newton is unable to play.
Back in 2014, there were doubts about Newton's health ahead of each matchup with the Buccaneers. He ended up sitting out both games while Anderson went 2-0.
Newton sustained his first documented concussion Sunday when he took a legal helmet-to-helmet hit from Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Deion Jones on a two-point conversion run.
The 27-year-old Newton needs to pass a series of exams and has to be cleared by both a Panthers physician and an independent neurologist.
Newton was one of seven Panthers who did not practice Thursday.
Left tackle Michael Oher (concussion) is also in the protocol. He informed the team late last week that he was experiencing headaches.
Right tackle Mike Remmers was shifted to left tackle last week to replace Oher in the starting lineup.
Also sitting out Thursday were cornerback James Bradberry (toe), defensive tackle Vernon Butler (ankle), linebacker Thomas Davis (hamstring), defensive end Charles Johnson (quadriceps) and running back Jonathan Stewart (hamstring).
