This is a tough game.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly could be seen crying after a collision Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte.
Kuechly’s helmet facemask appeared to hit the helmet of Saints running back Tim Hightower while tackling him in the fourth quarter. Kuechly then took a glancing blow to the back of his head from teammate Thomas Davis.
Chest heaving, tears flowing, Kuechly was carted off the field and evaluated for a concussion, Deadspin reported. He might have also sustained a leg injury.
Kuechly missed three games last season under the NFL’s concussion protocol, the Charlotte Observer noted.
His sobbing on Thursday was discussed with concern by announcers Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth, while the Observer wrote of Kuechly’s “dazed look.”
Here are a few clips below:
Teammate Greg Olsen told the Observer that Kuechly was “visibly upset.”
“There’s no real words to really describe it,” he said. “It all comes down to you just hope he’s OK. It’s really all we can do.”
Panthers safety Kurt Coleman said Kuechly still managed to urge the team to keep fighting as he was carted off, according to ESPN.
Kuechly’s injury and reaction was so concerning that basketball star Stephen Curry reached out:
The Panthers won, 23-20.
