Cam Newton didn’t want to let his teammates down last December, so he played with an injured shoulder that would eventually need surgery.

Newton didn’t want to wait to catch up when training camp started, so he threw the first four days of practice and then needed a 12-day layoff to get through the after-effects of surgery.

Newton admitted he’d have liked more action than his one drive last night against the Jaguars, in which he led them to a touchdown in eight plays but threw just two short passes to do so.

But when asked if the lack of work meant he might play next week against the Steelers, Panthers coach Ron Rivera replied: “Not necessarily.”

After some previous enthusiastic attempts led to longer setbacks, they might be wise to put him in bubble wrap, and not remove him until Sept. 10 in San Francisco.