Panthers LB Luke Kuechly making progress since suffering concussion

There is no timetable yet for Carolina Panthers star linebacker Luke Kuechly to return from a concussion, but he’s making encouraging progress and there’s been no talk of shutting him down for the season, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation involving Kuechly, who spoke this week by phone with Dr. Micky Collins, the Pittsburgh-based concussion specialist who examined Kuechly after his concussion in last season’s opener.

The Panthers ruled out Kuechly for Sunday’s game at Oakland. Coach Ron Rivera has said little on Kuechly’s status other than he continues to go through NFL concussion protocol, which requires an independent neurological consultant to approve return to play.

Injured Panthers LB Luke Kuechly offers thumbs up in Instagram post

Projecting a player’s return from a concussion is difficult in part because symptoms can reoccur or linger. Just on Friday, the Panthers placed tackle Michael Oher on injured reserve, eight weeks after he first reported concussion symptoms.

Kuechly, 25, was emotional as he left the field Nov. 17 on a cart after taking a helmet to the facemask from New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower, then being contacted from behind by teammate Thomas Davis. But Davis posted a photo to Instagram the next day of him and Kuechly, who was giving a thumbs-up. Kuechly has since been spotted by media at the team facility, and ESPN reported he attended the team’s Christmas tree lighting Wednesday night.

Kuechly missed three games after last year’s concussion, which was believed to be the first of his career. He returned to earn first-team all-pro honors for a third consecutive season as the Panthers won the NFC championship.