ATLANTA --?Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton?has been placed in the concussion protocol after he was taken out of Sundays 48-33 loss to the Falcons in the fourth quarter following a hard hit on a two-point conversion run.The reigning NFL MVP was hit by Falcons linebacker Deion Jones as he reached the goal line.?Derek Anderson came in for Newton on the ensuing drive and finished the game.I saw it was a quarterback run, Jones told ESPNs Ed Werder. It looked like he let up a little at the goal line, and I just tried to make a good play.Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Newton probably could have avoided the hit.I havent seen it close up, so well see it when I get an opportunity to watch tape, Rivera said.Newtons injury was suffered on a play similar to last year against the New Orleans Saints. On that play,?he wasnt evaluated for a concussion until after he completed the drive.Newton said after that game that?he let my foot off the gas and would never let that happen again.Anderson will start if Newton cant play Oct. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Newton missed two starts in 2014 -- one with fractured ribs and one with a broken bone in his back from a car wreck -- Anderson went 2-0. Both games were against the Buccaneers.Anderson finished 17-for-23 for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday. He also threw two interceptions.I thought he did some really good things, except for the one he thought he was throwing away [that was intercepted], Rivera said. He made some really good reads. He put us in position to score and gave us a chance.Anderson said he will be ready if called upon.If it happens, it happens, Anderson said. Ill come in and work, and well see what happens.Anderson couldnt say for sure if Newton could have avoided the hit on the two-point conversion.I dont think he saw the guy, Anderson said.But Anderson admitted it reminded him of the New Orleans hit Newton took.When Im running, Im running as fast as I can until somebody tackles me, because Im not very fast, Anderson said. Thats how I see it.The Panthers and the NFL came under fire when Newton wasnt taken out of the their season opener against the Denver Broncos after taking a hard hit to the head that left him on the ground longer than normal.After the Broncos game, Newton passed three concussion tests, but the league and the NFL Players Association are investigating whether the situation was handled correctly at the time. Rivera said Friday that he had not yet been questioned on the matter. Dave Robinson Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Paul Hornung Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Ray-Nitschke-Packers-Jersey/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Custom Green Bay Packers Jerseys . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Brett Favre Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. ESPN.coms Royce Young (11 a.m. ET), ESPNs Adnan Virk (11:30) and ESPN Radios Sarah Spain (12 p.m.) join Stugotz and Mike Golic Jr.Text us at 67974 (msg&data rates may apply) or tweet us at @LeBatardShow and @Stugotz790 -- weell be with you from 10 a.ddddddddddddm. to 1 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio, ESPNRadio.com and ESPNU. ' ' '
