CHARLOTTE, N.C. --?Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera indicated on Thursday that if quarterback Cam Newton is cleared from the concussion protocol he will play Monday night against Tampa Bay.Rivera said he wont know the status of the reigning NFL MVP until later in the week.Im going to listen to exactly what Im told, said Rivera, whose team is part of a probe by the NFL and NFLPA into how the protocol was followed when Newton was not taken out of the opener after taking several hits to the helmet.Thats the thing I want everybody to understand. Im going to do exactly what the doctors, the professionals, the people that study this, tell me. Then Im going to look to the young man. Im going to treat him exactly like I treated Luke Kuechly [last season].That was Riveras response when asked if he would consider holding Newton out even if cleared. In 2014, Rivera did not play the quarterback in the opener against Tampa Bay even though Newton wanted to play a few weeks after receiving fractured ribs in a preseason game.Rivera made the decision because doctors told him a hit in the wrong place could sideline Newton even longer.The decision on Newton now is completely out of Riveras hands.We follow the protocol, Rivera said. Weve never had any issues with following the protocol. Were not forcing players to get onto the football field. Well do exactly as the protocol tells us, and the doctors and the experts tell us.Kuechly missed three games last season after suffering a concussion in the opener.Newton, who suffered the concussion in the fourth quarter of a loss Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons, was among six starters that did not participate in practice Thursday.Rivera would not say which of the five phases of the concussion protocol Newton was in, but Newton did not appear on the practice field.One of the final two steps of passing the protocol is football-specific work in noncontact drills such as throwing and running before advancing to the final step of full activity.Michael Oher, Carolinas starting left tackle, has been in the concussion protocol since Friday when he informed the team he was having headaches. He also was not on the field Thursday.Also out were starting corner James Bradberry (toe), running back Jonathan Stewart (hamstring), linebacker Thomas Davis (hamstring) and defensive end Charles Johnson (quad).First-round pick Vernon Butler, a backup defensive tackle, also was out with a high ankle sprain that kept him out against Atlanta.Rivera said there was concern that all might miss the game Monday. He didnt completely rule out the return of Stewart, who has missed the past two games.Rivera said the 2015 Pro Bowl selection had a good day running on the treadmill in the pool and pulling a sled on the sideline at practice. When asked if Stewart might play, Rivera said, Well see.Most of the focus was on Newton and backup quarterback Derek Anderson, who went 2-0 against the Buccaneers in 2014 when Newton was injured.Weve got absolute confidence in Derek, Rivera said. Hes done a great job for us. Hes been very steady since hes been here the whole time. Guys have a lot of confidence in him, as well.Thats probably one of the more important things. Whenever you can bring a player in, and hes the next guy up, and everybody seems to have confidence in we just keep moving forward.Rivera joked that the only difference in the game plan with Anderson instead of Newton is that when the read-option is called Anderson likely will hand the ball off. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Randy Johnson Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. http://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.com/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Chris Owings Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Curt Schilling Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. SEATTLE -- The last time Seattle left-hander Wade LeBlanc started a game, teammate Felix Hernandez was on the disabled list, fellow left-hander Wade Miley was a part of the Mariners rotation, and the bullpen included Mike Montgomery, Joaquin Benoit and Nathan Karns.Things certainly have changed in Seattle over the past two weeks.Due to a flurry of moves leading up to the trade deadline, LeBlanc is back in the rotation and scheduled to start Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. It will mark his first action since July 23, his first start since July 18 and only his third appearance since the All-Star break.Injuries to the rotation led to the Mariners dealing for LeBlanc in June. He was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate after spending the 2015 season in Japan, yet Seattle was so desperate that he was immediately added to the Mariners rotation -- only to become a welcome addition while throwing solid outings over his first two starts.The return of Hernandez left LeBlanc in limbo. However, recent deals that included starter Miley and part-time starter Montgomery left the Mariners pretty thin in terms of starters -- so LeBlanc (1-0, 4.26 ERA) is back in the rotation as of Tuesday.He is one of several journeymen who will get the call for the Mariners (52-52) as they finish off a lost season. First-year general manager Jerry Dipoto refuses to use those terms, and he doesnt see the recent moves as a selling-off of a team out of contention, but the transactions spoke volumes about where the Mariners are after leading the American League West for much of April and May.We had a lot of oars in the water, Dipoto said before the Mariners 2-1 loss to Boston on Monday, but obviously nothing else came to fruition after we finished the Miley-(Ariel) Miranda deal (on Sunday). It was not for lack off trying to be creative and trying to get some things done.dddddddddddd.The Red Sox (58-46) were only slightly more active as they pursue the AL East title. They are tied with Toronto, a game behind the Baltimore Orioles, after a dramatic win Monday. Another ninth-inning home run, this one by Mookie Betts, finished off another comeback victory.Youve got to play 27 outs to beat us, Betts said. Youre starting to see that more and more now.Boston added veteran southpaw Fernando Abad to its bullpen in a Monday trade, and the former Minnesota Twin should be in uniform and ready to make his Red Sox debut Tuesday. It could also be the major league debut for outfield prospect Andrew Benintendi, who was called up from Triple-A after Mondays win. Manager John Farrell said the left-handed-hitting Benintendi probably wont be in the lineup against southpaw LeBlanc on Tuesday but is likely to start Wednesday night.Hes ready, Farrell said. Were going to get a first-hand look very soon.Boston lefty David Price, who already beat the Mariners once this season, is scheduled to start Tuesday. Price (9-7, 4.26 ERA) allowed one run on six hits over eight innings during a 2-1 victory over Seattle on June 19. In six career starts against the Mariners, Price is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.LeBlancs only career appearance against the Red Sox came in 2011, when he gave up three runs in three innings during a no-decision for the San Diego Padres.Seattle might debut a new closer, as veteran Steve Cishek blew a save Sunday night and gave up the game-winning homer Monday. Manager Scott Servais said after Mondays loss that the Mariners would try to get Cishek in some better spots without the game on the line. ' ' '