The Carolina Panthers hope to have linebacker Luke Kuechly in the lineup for their road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the three-time First-team All-Pro still has yet to be cleared by an independent neurologist following the concussion he suffered back in Week 6 on Thursday night.
Luke Kuiechly still hasn't met with doctors and is awaiting clearance from the NFL concussion protocol. He did practice again though.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) October 27, 2017
As noted by Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, Kuechly is listed as questionable and has practiced three days in a row without any issues.
RR says Luke Kuechly still has to see independent neurologist. Listed as questionable, but he's practiced all three days. So should be good.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 27, 2017
Kuechly missed the team’s last game due to the concussion he suffered when Philadelphia Eagles offensive guard Brandon Brooks crushed him on a pulling block.
Luke Kuechly taking a big shot to the head. His concussion history is scary. #PHIvsCAR pic.twitter.com/02AjNuti1q
— (@3lone) October 13, 2017
It was Kuechly’s third concussion in as many seasons, the second leading to him missing the final six games of last season.
When healthy, there are not many linebackers in the league to compare to Kuechly. He can run sideline-to-sideline as well as any inside linebacker, has uncanny instincts in the passing game, reads and diagnoses in the running game as well as anyone and hits like a ton of bricks once he makes his move.
Hopefully, for Kuechly’s and the Panthers’ sake, he can stay healthy the rest of his career.