The Charlotte police are reporting that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was involved in a car crash around 12:30 p.m. ET after his truck crashed and overturned on Interstate 277. The quarterback was seen lying on the sidewalk while being treated by medical personnel. He was then taken in ambulance where the Panthers report he is expected to stay overnight for observations as a precaution.
Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson told the Charlotte Observer that the quarterback is in good shape and doctors report that while Newton did not want to be taken to the hospital, the medical staff deemed it the best option. Witnesses reported to the Observer that Newton's truck collided with a Buick sedan and the truck flipped several times before stopping on the passenger side.
Newton was reportedly alert after the accident, but in pain. ESPN's Ed Werder reports that sources are saying it looking like some minor scores and bruises were suffered and that Newton was sore and beaten up, but the team later reported that further tests showed Newton suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back while having no further internal injuries.
According to NFL reporter Rachel Nichols, a transverse fracture goes across the bone and is similar to what Tony Romo played through earlier in the season. It is unclear at this time what Newton's status will be going forward. The Panthers play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 as a division matchup. If Newton is unable to play, Derek Anderson will take over the starting spot. The backup quarterback has seen a brief amount of action this season filling in for Newton when he was recovering from offseason ankle surgery. The Carolina Panthers are expected to exercise extreme caution with Newton as he has suffered through a variety of injuries.
Following the reports of the car accident, NFL players took to Twitter to show their support for the quarterback. Russell Wilson, Roddy White, Michael Vick and Jerry Rice all tweeter their support, offering up prayers to the quarterback for his health. If the injury is indeed similar to what Romo suffered, the quarterback could miss Week 15. Romo missed one week of action with the Cowboys while he healed. The Panthers sit in third in the NFC South and could opt to sit the quarterback for the remainder of the year depending on how his health progresses.
