CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers left tackle Byron Bell dropped to his knees and prayed Tuesday when he saw television images of the crumpled Dodge pickup owned by the quarterback he has been charged with protecting.

Backup quarterback/wide receiver Joe Webb felt "somebody stabbed me in the heart" when he learned that Cam Newton's truck had rolled in a wreck within a stone's throw of Bank of America Stadium.

Webb, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and a few other players rushed to Carolinas Medical Center to make sure their "brother" was all right.

All were relieved when they discovered the injuries weren't life- or career-threatening, that beyond two small fractures in the lower back Newton would be OK even though he will miss at least Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

But for those moments of uncertainty, it was scary.

"It hurt," fullback Mike Tolbert said Wednesday. "Every guy in this locker room, we're like brothers. To hear one of our guys going through something, it's definitely gut-wrenching."

The Panthers have had many off-the-field distractions this season, such as Newton's offseason ankle surgery and defensive end Greg Hardy being arrested on domestic violence charges and placed on the commissioner's exempt list until his case is resolved.

They have endured a seven-game winless streak that ended Sunday at New Orleans thanks to a Herculean effort by Newton, who passed for three touchdowns and ran for another.

But nothing has left players and coaches numb like images of Newton's pickup truck, on its side with the roof smashed in.

"Eventful," Tolbert said as he described everything that has happened this season. "There's so much that has gone on it'll make a good movie if we go on to win the Super Bowl."

As eventual as this season has been, the Panthers (4-8-1) are only a half-game behind Atlanta (5-8) and New Orleans (5-8) in the NFC South with three games to go.

Carolina needs to win out and have New Orleans lose one more game to guarantee itself the division for the second straight year.

The Panthers believe they can do their part even if backup Derek Anderson has to play more than one game while Newton recovers.

"Yeah," Tolbert said. "I believe in him like I believe in Cam."

For the moment, the Panthers are focused on Tampa Bay and Newton's long-term health. They can't wait for Newton to come to the stadium Thursday to begin working with the training staff on a program that will get him back in the lineup.

Wednesday began with head trainer Ryan Vermillion talking to the players. Coach Ron Rivera, who opened the team meeting with a brief statement on Newton, thought that was the best way to reassure everyone that this wasn't more serious than the pictures indicated.

"When you see the pictures, there is a sense of relief," Rivera said. "Thank goodness he was the only occupant, too, because the passenger side took a pretty good wallop."

Rivera was about to eat lunch at the stadium when he first saw on Twitter that Newton was involved in a wreck. He thought it was a hoax, but as the team investigated, he realized it was serious.

Because Tuesday is a day off for players, many learned of the accident through social media or television. Then they began reaching out to one another.

Newton's status for Sunday wasn't a concern.

"My biggest concern is him being alive," Bell said.

That was the feeling throughout the locker room. Tolbert was relieved as soon as he heard Newton was going to be OK. He felt better when Newton responded to one of his text messages.

"He's a strong guy," Tolbert said. "He's going to come back stronger from this."

Meanwhile, the Panthers plan to handle this situation like they have all others this season.

"Nothing ever goes according to plans," said tight end Greg Olsen, who knows that more than most after watching his 2-year-old son undergo multiple open heart surgeries in the past few months. "Life, football ... it's a cyclical year. Things are good, things are bad, things are in between.

"The teams that handle and weather those storms and handle success and handle downturns are the ones that can sustain success for a long time."

The Panthers also know how hard it will be for Newton to handle being a spectator. They remembered how he lobbied to start in Week 1 against Tampa Bay despite his rib injury and how disappointed he was when Rivera told him he wouldn't.

"He's a competitor, man," Tolbert said. "He could be out there trying to roll around in a wheelchair and he'd still be trying to throw balls. He's that kind of a competitor to where he gives it all on the field.

"We're going to give it all on the field for him this week."