Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) — The Carolina Panthers beat the New Orleans Saints 23-20 Thursday night, but it wasn’t all good news. Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly was removed from the field in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit with Saints running back Tim Hightower. He is now being evaluated for a possible concussion, ESPN reported.
Kuechly was reportedly in tears as he was being transported to the locker room Thursday. It’s his second concussion in two years, as he was forced to miss three games last season in Week 1 due to a concussion.
Kuechly’s teammate, Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson, called him a leader and “when you see a leader call down like that, we just rally behind him.”
Saints quarterback Drew Brees also expressed concern for Kuechly Thursday.
“I tried to let him know that I was gonna be praying for him,” he said, according to ESPN. “He is certainly one of the best football players I’ve ever seen and played against. And I hope that he’s OK.”
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