Less than 48 hours after he climbed out of his truck after it flipped and landed on its side about a block from Bank of America Stadium, Cam Newton was back at work Thursday.

The Panthers quarterback watched film and went through rehab for the two transverse processes he broke in his back during Tuesday’s car accident. He then spent about seven minutes meeting with the media. Newton leaned on a podium the entire time, and smiled plenty even as he recalled the wreck that could have wound up a whole lot worse.

“One thing that I remember is I really couldn’t talk afterward cause I was such in shock. I got myself out of the truck, and I couldn’t stop smiling,” Newton remembered. “In my book, one plus one is always going to equal two. And I’m looking at this truck, and I’m looking at this accident, and I’m like, ‘Dude, one plus one isn’t equalling two.’ I’m looking at this truck thinking, ‘Somebody’s supposed to be dead.'”

“I just can’t stop smiling cause it’s like God has his hands on me. I’m on somebody’s fantasy league, and I think it’s the man upstairs.”

Newton will miss just the second game of his career Sunday, with backup Derek Anderson set to make his second start of the season against the Bucs.

There’s a chance Newton could return as soon as next week against the Browns, but that’s secondary to how fortunate the 25-year-old was this week.

“As far as when I’m coming back, who cares? That’s not something I’m worried about right now,” Newton said. “I’m just thankful to have breath in my lungs so I can breathe.”

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