Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said Kuechly (concussion) may be on a "pitch count" in Week 6 against the Seahawks, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Kuechly returned to practice Tuesday, setting him up to play for the first time since Week 1. There's some chance he'll have a limited role, but despite what his coach said, it's more likely the star linebacker will jump right back in as an every-down player.

Kuechly practiced Tuesday for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 1.

The Panthers announced Tuesday morning that Kuechly was cleared to return to practice, and he was able to suit up and take part in drills the same day. Kuechly should be able to play in the Panthers' Week 6 matchup with the Seahawks barring any setbacks over the next few days, but it remains to be seen if he will be ready for a full workload after missing a month of action.

Kuechly (concussion) has been cleared to return to practice, ESPN reports.

Kuechly has not played since the Panthers' opener against Jacksonville, a game left in the first half after suffering a concussion. The middle linebacker has since been in the NFL's concussion protocol and was finally cleared Tuesday after a full month of the shelf. While Kuechly is expected to return to the field in Week 6, coach Ron Rivera noted that he may have a reduced workload. "We've got four good days of practice on tap and we'll see how his conditioning is," defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "Luke's a highly conditioned athlete. He's been staying involved the whole way, or as much as he could have. And he had a bye week. We'll just take it one day at a time."

Kuechly will meet with an independent doctor again this week in hopes of being cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol, The Charlotte Observer reports.

Kuechly has been sidelined since Week 1 due to a concussion and despite entering the final stage of league protocol last week, he was unable to receive clearance from an independent doctor ahead of Sunday's game versus the Buccaneers. Now with the Panthers on their bye week, Kuechly will hope to be given the green light to return in the coming days and reclaim his starting position for Carolina's Week 6 game against the Seahawks.

Kuechly (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.

Kuechly will miss a third straight game, but he has a good chance to return after the Panthers' Week 5 bye. That being said, recovery from concussions is tough to predict, so the star linebacker's Week 6 availability shouldn't be taken for granted.

Kuechly (concussion) was not seen practicing Friday, Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer reports.

With Carolina's bye week following Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, it's looking like the Panthers could choose to hold Kuechly out of his third consecutive game in an attempt to give him two additional weeks to recover. If he's unable to play, A.J. Kein will most likely get the start at middle linebacker once again.

Kuechly (concussion) did not practice Thursday and his status is in doubt for Sunday's game, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observor reports.

Coach Ron Rivera seemed to lean towards the Panthers playing without their star middle linebacker for a third straight contest, but he hasn't officially been ruled out yet. That being said, Carolina could sit Kuechly one more week with their bye right around the corner, therefore giving the 24-year-old two additional pass concussion protocol and return to practice.

Kuechly didn't practice Wednesday, after which head coach Ron Rivera told Steve Reed of the Associated Press, "He's in the protocol."

Rivera wouldn't elaborate on the point, but it has been rumored for some time that Kuechly is on the verge of receiving clearance from an independent neurologist. The murky nature of concussions is delaying that development, keeping a cloud over his return to the field. Until he's cleared, A.J. Klein will hold down the fort at middle linebacker.

Kuechly (concussion) could receive clearance from an independent neurologist in time to return for Wednesday's practice.

Kuechly has missed the Panthers' past two games after suffering a concussion in Week 1, but has continued to progress through league protocol, according to coach Ron Rivera. All Kuechly needs to do is receive clearance from an independent doctor, which could come as early as Tuesday. Should that transpire, Kuechly would figure to rejoin his teammates in practice this week ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Kuechly (concussion) will not play Sunday against the Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Kuechly is officially listed as doubtful for the game, as he was unable to practice at all this week due to the head injury. A.J. Klein is expected to start again in Kuechly's absence, though he wasn't an every-down player last week, which limited his IDP upside.

Kuechly (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Saints.

Kuechly missed practice for a second straight week, leaving A.J. Klein as the likely starter for Sunday's game against the Saints. Klein did come off the field on some passing downs last week, so he's a shaky IDP option in most formats.

Kuechly (concussion) did not take part in Friday's practice, Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Kuechly was on the sideline at Friday's session, but he did not have a helmet, and sat out of drills for the third day in a row. The Panthers will update Kuechly's status sometime Friday afternoon, but with him not practicing at all this week, it's looking like he will a second straight game.

Kuechly (concussion) is slated to meet with an independent neurologist late Thursday or sometime Friday, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.

The Panthers, and specifically head coach Ron Rivera, have implied this week that Kuechly is inching toward a resolution of the concussion suffered in the regular season opener. With no setbacks and an examination on the schedule, Kuechly could receive encouraging news in the near future. In the meantime, though, owners should caution to be patient with the tackling machine.

Kuechly remains in the concussion protocol, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Kuechly fit in some light non-contact work during Wednesday's practice, but the same sticking point remains true: he has yet to receive clearance from an independent neurologist, which would be the last hurdle to pass in his recovery effort. Until that occurs, he'll remain on the sideline.

Kuechly (concussion) is expected to participate in non-contact portions of Wednesday's practice.

Kuechly's concussion suffered in Week 1 prevented him from playing in the Panthers' win over the Texans on Sunday, but it appears he'll return to practice in some capacity this week. While that involvement represents progress for Kuechly, he still hasn't met with an independent doctor, the final step in being cleared under league protocol. As a result, the All Pro linebacker's status will have to be monitored once again throughout this week.

Kuechly (concussion) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Texans

It was already looking bad for Kuechly's chances of playing Sunday, seeing as how he was doubtful and still hadn't practiced all week, so this just confirms what seemed probable. This will be the first missed game of his career. The 24-year-old's next step will be to clear the concussion protocol and hope to be ready for an intra-division game against the Saints next Sunday.

Kuechly (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Texans.

Given that he served in an every-down role after Kuechly suffered a concussion last week, fill-in starter A.J. Klein may provide a decent approximation of the superstar linebacker's IDP production. If Kuechly was going to miss a game for the first time in his career, this would seem to be the right one, with the Texans lacking any serious receiving threats among their tight ends and running backs. 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. Rivera said he's yet to have a player cleared within a week of suffering a head injury during his tenure with the Panthers, also suggesting that he wants to make sure Kuechly's healthy for a pair of upcoming intradivision games in Weeks 3 and 4.

Kuechly (concussion) is considered doubtful for Sunday's game against the Texans, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Kuechly has not practiced since suffering a concussion in last weekend's season opener, putting his status in significant doubt ahead of Sunday's Week 2 game against the Texans. Should Kuechly be sidelined for that encounter, AJ Klein would figure to fill his place at middle linebacker in the Panthers' defense.

Kuechly (concussion) did not take the field during the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer reports.

It's possible Kuechly could get some work in behind the scenes Friday, but it's looking like he will register a "DNP" on the injury report for the third day in a row, which suggest that he has not been cleared per the league's concussion protocol. The Panthers will update Kuechly's status Friday afternoon, but his chances of playing Sunday appear slim.

Kuechly must get through one more stage of the NFL's concussion protocol before an independent neurologist makes a decision on his ability to play, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.

Kuechly missed his second practice in a row Thursday, leaving just one more opportunity to fit in drills this week. According to Bryan Strickland of the Panthers' official site, head coach Ron Rivera and the team will exercise caution when a decision must be made to take the field. If Kuechly sits out, A.J. Klein will get the nod at middle linebacker Sunday against the Texans.