CHARLOTTE -- Cam Newton was sore but in good spirits after being released from a Charlotte hospital just after 11 a.m. ET Wednesday following a Tuesday car crash that left him with two transverse process fractures in his lower back.
Newton left Carolinas Medical Center with his mother and father to begin his recovery, Carolina Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton told reporters. He is not expected to join his teammates at Bank of America Stadium for practice Wednesday, Dayton said, and his status for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is unclear.
"(His status will be) determined really on a day-to-day basis and see how fast the soreness goes away," Dayton said. "He'll start the recuperation process today."
Dayton said he couldn't say for sure whether Newton's injuries were caused by the crash and not football, but said Newton wasn't feeling any of the stiffness or soreness in his back after last week's 41-10 romp over the New Orleans Saints. Newton was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his four-touchdown game (three passing, one rushing).
PDF: Cam Newton accident report
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and coach Ron Rivera were among those from the organization who stopped by the hospital during Newton's stay of nearly 24 hours.
"Cam wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes and also thank the staff at Carolinas Medical Center for the great care they gave him," Dayton said.
Newton was traveling 35 mph Tuesday when his pickup truck hit a car which had pulled out in front of him, according to a Charlotte Mecklenburg Police accident report released Wednesday.
Neither driver was cited in the case, according to the report.
Newton told police he was unable to avoid a Buick driven by a 46-year-old South Carolina man, resulting in a rollover crash that left Newton hospitalized with two transverse process fractures in his lower back.
Police said they interviewed two witnesses, both of who agreed with Newton's version of events. The other driver told police he did not see Newton before he pulled out to cross S. Church St., which is just a couple blocks from Bank of America Stadium.
Newton's status leaves the Panthers with a major question mark heading into Sunday's home game against Tampa Bay.
The team said Newton was expected to be discharged from Carolinas Medical Center sometime Wednesday, but the Panthers began practice as scheduled before he was released. That leaves Derek Anderson -- who beat the Buccaneers in Week 1 while Newton was recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
PHOTOS: Cam Newton involved in car crash
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2014/12/10/cam-newton-car-accident-carolina-panthers/20192163/
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