Cam Newton Injury: Panthers quarterback a game-time decision, Da'Quan Bowers returns to practice

Injuries

Cam Newton's participation on Sunday will be a game-time decision, head coach Ron Rivera said today via Joe Person. Will Carroll notes that it's 99% certain he'll play and it seems unlikely Newton will be held out, but the Bucs' chances of winning will go up exponentially if he can't suit up.

Da'Quan Bowers practiced, but is still very unlikely to play on Sunday, Lovie Smith said.

Still sidelined for Bucs today: DE Will Gholston, WR Louis Murphy, CB Rashaan Melvin, S Bradley McDougald.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 4, 2014

One note from that tweet: Mike James was at practice, as he was yesterday. He was listed as being limited yesterday.

Meanwhile, Jeff Tedford will also be a game-time decision, Lovie Smith said. He hasn't come into the facility yet, but he's recovering well from surgery and has been able to advise the other offensive coaches.QB coach Marcus Arroyo will call the plays from the field, but it's a collaborative process, tight end coach Jon Embree said.

Eyebrow-raising quote of the day

Lovie Smith on Mike Glennon lining up as Cam Newton in practice: "Not as dark as Cam, but a pretty imposing figure."

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 4, 2014

Bad memories of opening games

Lovie Smith doesn't have a lot of fond memories of opening days.When he entered the NFL as a linebackers coach for the 1996 Buccaneers, they started out by losing their first game 34-3 to the Green Bay Packers. In fact, they lost their first five games to start the season. And when he became a head coach in Chicago in 2003, he started out by losing 49-7 to the San Francisco 49ers.

"It's vivid, I'll say that," Lovie Smith said. "It never goes away. Not a butt-whupping like that. When you get beat like that you don't remember a lot of good things that happen."

Here's to hoping this Sunday will be remembered more fondly.