CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Derek Anderson is preparing as if he will start at quarterback for the Panthers against the Bucs in the game scheduled for Monday night with Cam Newton in the league's concussion protocol.
Anderson took reps with the first-team offense for the second straight day Thursday while Newton was absent from the outdoor practice.
Coach Ron Rivera had no update on Newton's status, saying he wouldn't make a decision on the league's 2015 MVP until later this week.
"We are not forcing players to get onto the football field," Rivera said emphatically. "We will do exactly as the protocol tells us and what the doctors and experts tell us.