Luke Kuechly still out with concussion

The Carolina Panthers are 3-0, but not everything is peachy for the co-NFC South leaders. Carolina watched star inside linebacker Luke Kuechly sustain a fairly serious concussion in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he is yet to return to the practice field.

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On Wednesday, it was reported by Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review that Kuechly is still sidelined and could miss this week’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perhaps head coach Ron Rivera would be making the smart decision to bench Kuechly even if he is cleared, with the Panthers enjoying a Week 5 BYE.

Without Kuechly, Carolina has still been suffocating on defense. The Panthers were able to throttle the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium, albeit facing Luke McCown and Ryan Mallett. Neither are going to be going to the Pro Bowl or Hall of Fame any day soon. Of course, losing Kuechly long-term would be a devastating blow to a defense that is already without end Charles Johnson, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Carolina has been busy trying to fortify the defense, trading a draft pick to the Chicago Bears for defensive end Jared Allen. Allen, 33, only had 5.5 sacks last year in his first campaign with Chicago and is yet to record a sack in 2015. However, Allen is one of the greatest pass-rushers of all-time, notching 134 in his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago. Allen can still make a play, giving Rivera another weapon to utilize.