Panthers’ Luke Kuechly cleared by neurologist, set to return to practice after

Linebacker Luke Kuechly returned to practice with a helmet and full pads on Tuesday.

The news comes more than four weeks after Kuechly suffered a concussion late in the first half of Week 1’s win at Jacksonville.

It’s still not clear whether Kuechly will play Sunday against the Seahawks.

Sunday’s game kickoffs from Washington at 4:05p on Fox 46 WJZY.

Kuechly, the best inside linebacker in football, will solidify Carolina’s defense nicely. Other weeks he stayed inside team facilities working on his conditioning, not once going out to the practice field. “You can’t suck it up”, Kuechly said Tuesday.

Kuechly – a man who has made a lucrative career of flying all over the field – was anxious to get back on the field, and disliked having his return delayed by his inability to simply get over the first known concussion of his playing career. “You’ve just got to sit there and wait”.

But the Panthers spent last week on their bye and that appears to have given Kuechly enough time to exit the concussion protocol.

In 2013, Kuechly won the NFL’s defensive player of the year award.

The last time Luke Kuechy missed a football practice, he was living with his parents. “Obviously I want to play, but you understand that things need to be taken care or else you may get another one”. Kuechly would come back when he was ready, not because he felt pressured by his coach.

Luke Kuechly to fan: “I’m feeling much better”.

“He never shows fatigue”, Ealy said.

“It’s one of things where what is the right thing to do versus what you want to do”, Kuechly said. “I was able to do what I was supposed to do, but it’s just different being out there and running around”.