Five-plus seasons filled with dozens of hits haven't convinced the Carolina Panthers to change Cam Newton's game and neither will his first documented concussion.

As of Thursday afternoon, the quarterback was still in the NFL's concussion protocol, but he was a full participant in the morning's practice. And if he's cleared by an independent neurologist by Sunday, expect Newton to play like he always has — running and all.

"That's his game," offensive coordinator Mike Shula said. "We'll look at it and we'll talk about it, but part of his game and what makes him so good is that."

An ESPN report this past weekend said that in the aftermath of the legal helmet-to-helmet hit Newton took in Atlanta, "Multiple people in (Newton's) inner circle have counseled him to play more carefully." But that's something friends, family and Carolina's coaches have been advising for years. The issue is Newton's tendency to ignore the advice once he's in the heat of a game.

When asked if the Panthers would shy away from using Newton as an integral part of their run game Sunday, assuming he's cleared to play, coach Ron Rivera replied:

"We'll play our offensive accordingly."

And when pressed to expound on his answer, Rivera said.

"Depends on the situations, circumstances, calls, plays, reads. The quarterback's going to play the game the way he plays the game. That's one thing about Cam Newton. We can call a play and he can drop back and take off running on his own.

"So we're going to play our offense accordingly."