CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Are Cam Newton's touchdown celebrations getting under the skin of his opponents? Is it getting to the point where Newton could put himself at risk of retaliation from an aggressive defensive player?

Ultimately, is the Carolina Panthers quarterback putting a big target on his jersey?

"No doubt, no doubt," Tennessee Titans cornerback Perrish Cox told ESPN.com's NFL Nation. "Everybody is not the same. You've got some guys who have an aggressive attitude.

"Those ones that have an aggressive attitude, especially in a close game, it could come out at times. What he's doing, he eggs it [on]."

Newton did the Atlanta-based dance called the "dab" after a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-10 win over the Titans. Linebacker Avery Williamson took offense and got in Newton's face.

Newton continued to dab as officials pulled the players apart. It didn't ignite into an all-out brawl -- like what transpired last season in New Orleans, when Newton did his "Superman" celebration in the Superdome -- but it could have.

"He's a great player," Cox said. "Can't take nothing away from him, but it is a bit much."

Indianapolis linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said Newton makes it hard on himself with some of his moves.

"He made a comment about 'Don't let me score,'" he said. "Every guy who plays him, he runs the ball, so they're going to make sure they get after him.

"He's just creating a big bull's-eye on his chest."

Jackson doesn't fault Newton for celebrating.

"He just has to be careful, because he plays a position where he's very valuable to an organization," he said. "What happens if he gets hurt? You don't want to create some unwanted attention you don't need."

Newton didn't run for a touchdown when the Panthers (9-0) beat the Colts in overtime earlier this month. But he did irritate a few defensive players -- and not with his dancing.

"It gets us going when he makes plays and then talks," Jackson said. "He better be on his 'A' game, because when he does that it pisses you off."

But Jackson felt Newton went too far with the celebration at Tennessee.

"I get the celebration, but all the extra stuff taunting in the guy's face ... that should have been called, in my opinion," he said. "Now everybody is watching it. He does it again, he might cost his team."

Newton insists he is just having fun and that he doesn't mean to offend anyone. Panthers coach Ron Rivera maintains that Newton's celebrations haven't reached the level of taunting.

Furthermore, Newton's teammates defend his right to celebrate, whether it's dancing or doing the Superman move.

"This isn't 'Footloose,'" Panthers defensive end Jared Allen said. "Dancing is not banned. I've been on the other side of that. There's Jimmy Graham dunking on the goal post.

"Guess what? You're mad because we scored. You're not mad because of the dance."

Allen said Newton is doing the "right things" by giving young fans a ball after every Carolina touchdown "and "showing them that this game is fun."

And Allen was quick to remind those concerned that it is the defense's job to keep Newton out of the end zone and prevent him from celebrating.

"I think it's a big to-do about nothing," Allen said. "I mean, I'm going to celebrate a sack, because it's like our touchdown. It's so hard to get them, so of course you're going to celebrate."

That Newton scores a lot while rushing makes him different than most quarterbacks who typically only throw for touchdowns.

Newton has 39 career rushing touchdowns, which puts him four behind Steve Young for the NFL record for quarterbacks. With 30 games of at least one rushing touchdown and one scoring strike under his belt, Newton is one short of Young's record of 31.

"I do think when you run the ball in, it is a totally different deal than when you throw it," said Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins, who faces the Panthers on Sunday.

Cousins said he would be more creative in his touchdown celebrations if he had Newton's moves.

"If you don't have that kind of rhythm, it is hard to come up with some great celebrations," he said.

Cousins celebrated Sunday's 47-14 victory over New Orleans by yelling, "You like that?" into television cameras.

"I kind of am restricted to only a few things, which include yelling, 'You like that?'" Cousins said.

Jacksonville defensive lineman Tyson Alualu called Newton's touchdown dance "awesome."

"I don't know why they get mad," he said. "He was right what he said in his interview. If you want it to stop, you've got to keep him out of the end zone.”

Washington nose tackle Terrance Knighton said Newton's celebrations are "good for the kids."

"The kids get to see their role models having fun and playing a game we love; so, shoot, if he scores a touchdown, he can do whatever he does,” he said.

Will that change on Sunday if Newton dabs against the Redskins?

"You don't want to see guys, especially a quarterback, celebrate," Jackson said. "For him, he has to be careful. A D-lineman gets a hold of him, and he can get hurt."

NFL Nation reporters John Keim, Mike Wells, Paul Kuharsky and Michael DiRocco contributed to this story.