CHARLOTTE – Carolina released the first injury report of Week 5 on Thursday, and with 13 players listed it is by far the longest for the team this season.

All but two are listed as starters on the Panthers' depth chart.

Headlining the list is last year's MVP, quarterback Cam Newton, who remains in the concussion protocol after taking a blow to the head during his two-point conversion carry last Sunday in Atlanta.

Joining Newton in the protocol is left tackle Michael Oher, who first reported symptoms in the days leading up to the Falcons game and has yet to return to the practice field.

"We will do exactly as the protocol tells us and the doctors and experts tell us," head coach Ron Rivera said. "That's the thing I want everybody to understand. I'm going to do exactly what the doctors and professionals, the people that study this tell me, and then I'm going to look to the young man (Newton). I'm going to treat him exactly like I treated Luke Kuechly. That's exactly how we're going to treat Michael Oher.

"We follow protocol. We've never had any issues with following the protocol and forcing players to get on the football field."

Linebacker Thomas Davis and running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert are all currently facing hamstring injuries. Only Tolbert participated Thursday, but that's not to say that Stewart hasn't improved since going down against the 49ers in Week 2.

"He had a real good day," Rivera said. "They've had him running in the pool. They had him pulling the sleds on the field yesterday and today. He continued his individual stuff. We're headed in the right direction with him."

The coaching staff will have a better idea of Stewart's status when he returns to the facility Friday after another night of rest.

Completing the list on the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. (foot), center Ryan Kalil (knee), wide receiver Devin Funchess (foot) and tackle Mike Remmers (shoulder) were all limited in Thursday's practice.

"I feel very good about them," Rivera said of his six players that were limited.

Defensively, Davis, cornerback James Bradberry (foot), defensive end Charles Johnson (quad) and defensive tackle Vernon Butler (ankle) did not participate.