CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Don’t look for Cam Newton to alter his style as a dual-threat quarterback in Sunday’s game at New Orleans because of his recent concussion.
“That’s his game,” Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula said Thursday. “We will look at him and talk about it, but part of his game and what makes him so good is that. So if he’s cleared, well then…"
The NFL MVP still has to get final clearance from the concussion protocol by an independent specialist. That could come on Friday.
But Newton is on target to start after practicing the past two days; he was a full participant on Thursday.
So if the situation at New Orleans requires Newton to keep on the read-option or take off running under pressure, he’ll likely do it.
“That’s one thing about Cam Newton,’’ coach Ron Rivera said. “We can call a play, and he can drop back and take off running on his own. We’re going to play our offense accordingly.’’
Newton has rushed for more yards (3,354) than any quarterback in the NFL since he entered the league in 2011. He already has 45 career rushing touchdowns, an NFL record for a QB.
His 41.2 percent success rate of rushing first downs versus total rushes is by far the best in the NFL since 2011. Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles is second at 24.9 percent.
Built like a linebacker at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Newton takes a lot of punishment doing this. He has been hit while running, hit while throwing, or sacked 11.3 times per game this season, by far the highest rate of any quarterback in the NFL.
He has been hit far more times than any quarterback in the league since 2011.
Newton suffered the concussion while attempting to run in a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter against Atlanta on Oct. 3. It was the first recorded concussion of his professional career.
In his last three games against the Saints, Newton has rushed 29 times for 165 yards and a touchdown. He also has been successful passing in those three games, completing 65.7 percent of his attempts for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception.
When asked whether Carolina would shy away from the read-option, which gives Newton the option to run or hand the ball off, Rivera said, “We’ll play our offense accordingly. It’s what we’re going to do.’’
When asked whether how Newton feels would play into that, Rivera said, “Accordingly.’’
When asked what that meant, Rivera said, “Accordingly.’’
“It depends on the situations, circumstances, calls, plays, reads,’’ he continued. “The quarterback is going to play the game the way he plays the game.’’