Carolina Panthers linebacker and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly has missed the past three games after suffering a scary concussion back in Week 11.
While Kuechly has cleared the league’s concussion protocol, he will not play Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
#Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, cleared in the NFL’s concussion protocol, won’t play tonight. It’s a long-term view.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 19, 2016
This really does seem to make the most sense. Kuechly’s latest concussion was so bad that he was seen emotional in exiting the game against the New Orleans Saints. There’s no real reason for the star linebacker to rush himself back, especially when we’re looking at a substantial head injury.
Secondly, Carolina is now officially eliminated from playoff contention. Even if the former first-round pick helped Carolina win a game or two here, there’s nothing that suggests his return would turn around the fortune of a team that’s in the midst of a lost season.
Look for Kuechly to sit for the remainder of the season.