Newton: Injuries aren't excuse for poor play

The Carolina Panthers fell to 0-2 after losing 20-14 on Thursday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was inefficient, completing less than 50% of his 50 pass attempts and finishing the night with a 69.1 passer rating.

The 6-foot-5, 245 lbs passer again failed to showcase his rushing abilities, carrying the ball just two times for zero yards and losing a fumble.

Newton's poor play through two games has led to speculation about his health. The nine-year pro underwent offseason shoulder surgery, and FOX analyst Troy Aikman mentioned during the broadcast that Newton could be dealing with a foot injury.

"I feel OK," Newton said after the game. "You're not going to hear no type of reasons why tonight didn't go as planned, I have to be better, no matter what physical condition I'm in. No matter what - foot, shoulder - I didn't get the job done tonight and it's frustrating. I wish I could say something other than that. But that's the facts."

Newton, one of the league's best running quarterbacks, didn't touch the ball on the Panthers' final offensive play.

Trailing by six points with less than two minutes left and facing a 4th-and-1 from the Buccaneers' 2-yard line, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey took a direct snap and ran for the corner of the end zone. He was pushed out of bounds short of both the end zone and a first down, giving possession back to Tampa Bay.

Newton was asked postgame whether he would have preferred to get the ball on Carolina's final play.

"Of course, but you're not about to sit up here and have me point and say what I would have called different," he said. "Me, personally, I accept full responsibility in making sure that offensively I do my part and uphold my end of the bargain, that's the only thing I can say right now.

"I felt extremely confident in the play," he added. "I've always felt confident in the plays that (are) called. (Offensive coordinator Norv Turner) gives us a great chance to put us in a winning position, it's just up to us as players to execute."

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