Cam Newton Panther 2014
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's status for Week 15's critical matchup against Tampa Bay is unclear after he was involved in a two-car accident Tuesday. Reuters

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has left a Charlotte-area hospital after suffering two fractures in his lower back in a car accident Tuesday.

NFL Network reporter Jeff Darlington tweeted Wednesday that Newton was discharged and immediately made his way back to Bank of American Stadium, the Panthers home field.

The injury sustained in the crash is one similar to that Dallas Cowboys starter Tony Romo has played with all season, and Newton heading straight back to the Panthers could leave the possibility open for him to start Sunday against the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Newton, considered by many as the most athletic player at his position in the NFL, is coming off arguably his best game of the season, a 41-10 demolishing of the New Orleans Saints during which he threw three touchdowns and rushed for 83 yards and another score. The victory snapped a seven-game winless streak for the Panthers, and kept their postseason hopes alive.

Newton’s importance to the Panthers offense can’t be understated. He’s thrown for 2,812 yards and 16 touchdowns, and is second on the team with 425 rushing yards and three scores.

But based off the statement the team released Tuesday after the accident, Carolina didn’t seem to be pressuring Newton to start right away.

"Right now we have thought about Cam's well-being and we understand there was someone else in the other car who was injured," the team said. "We just hope that they're all OK."

Even at 4-8 the Panthers are still alive in the playoff race in the NFL’s worst division this season. Carolina is one game back in the division with three games to play, two of which are against NFC South foes Tampa Bay and first-place Atlanta. Carolina is 2-2 in the division, and Atlanta currently owns the tiebreaker after beating the Panthers 19-17 in Week 11.

Should Carolina keep winning, it could play Atlanta for the division crown when the squads meet again in the regular season finale Dec. 28.