As one key defensive player returned Wednesday for the Carolina Panthers, another was relegated to observer status.
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Kuechly (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Texans.
Kuechly, who suffered a concussion toward the end of the first half of last week’s win in Jacksonville, was present at Friday’s practice but did not participate in any drills. Kuechly may receive clearance from an independent physician Saturday, but Panthers head coach Ron Rivera hinted that he might still hold his defensive captain out, ESPN.com reports. He arrived for practice with the rest of his teammates for the first time this week on Friday but did not participate.
Rivera said he’s “not concerned” about the unit’s recent struggles.
Kuechly just signed a contract before the season that pays him big money and it comes as he has established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league.
Rivera said even if Kuechly is cleared by Sunday, that doesn’t guarantee he’ll play.
“His success hasn’t come by accident”, McDermott said. “I think he’s taken the next step in his game to do that to where he can sit in the pocket and look all over the field and make every throw”.
“Another thing, you’ve got to look at who we’ve got coming up”, he said, citing the defending NFC South champions’ two divisional games after Houston against New Orleans and Tampa Bay. “I feel like a lot of people see him as the best of the best, so I’m looking forward to going out there and seeing what it’s like in person”.
Tight end Greg Olsen joins Dave Dameshek of NFL.com to talk Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, his gameday diet and more. “It’s going to help me on Sunday”.
“It’s not like you got Tom Brady on one side and another quarterback somewhere else”.
BY THE NUMBERS: 48 – Total of points the Panthers allowed in the fourth quarter of their past 11 regular-season games.
Offensive tackle Daryl Williams, who will miss two to four weeks after spraining his MCL in Week 1, is the only Carolina player ruled out against the Texans.
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It wasn’t that Benjamin was an irreplaceable piece of the offense but more so the Panthers just didn’t have anyone to replace him. Rivera said Lotulelei would have replace at least the 15 snaps Colin Cole gave the team in last week’s victory at Jacksonville.
