Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly missed three games last season with a concussion and it’s likely that another one brought him to tears as he was carted off the field on Thursday night. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth speculated at the time that it was a leg injury but it was the helmet of New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower that appears to do the damage.
It was as if Kuechly simultaneously didn’t know where he was and realized that because he didn’t know where he was, it scared him enough that it brought him to tears as he seemed to be gasping to catch his breath.
Prayers go out for Luke Kuechly. Nobody loves football more than this guy pic.twitter.com/sYayyVXLjH
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 18, 2016
Kuechly is one of the more well-liked players in the league and he received some support in the form of tweets last night and into today.
Prayers up for you bro. Stay strong n prayed up. @LukeKuechly
— 2 (@RonBrooks33) November 18, 2016
FIRST THINGS FIRST … PRAYING for my guy Luke Kuechly !!! #NFLfamily 🙏🏻 🏈 pic.twitter.com/hEfqkVe0jK
— Roman Harper (@Harp41) November 18, 2016
Prayers up for @LukeKuechly
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 18, 2016
Sending my prayers over to @LukeKuechly and @MarkIngram22 ! 🙏🏿 #TNF
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@P2) November 18, 2016
(Also: Saints running back Mark Ingram appeared to be knocked unconscious before leaving the field for good. Football is great!)
Prayers up for @LukeKuechly
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) November 18, 2016
Keep your head up #59! Nobody plays the game harder than you my man. Heal up Quick! #KeepPounding
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) November 18, 2016
Hang in there @LukeKuechly. Praying for you bro.
— COACH ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) November 18, 2016
Hate to see that for @LukeKuechly. What a great person. Sending good thoughts.
— Ronnie Lott (@RonnieLottHOF) November 18, 2016
Hang in there @LukeKuechly 👊🏾.
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) November 18, 2016
Wishing @LukeKuechly well; that was tough to watch last night. Great player and person. #Panthers
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) November 18, 2016
That @LukeKuechly scene was heart wrenching. Hate to see anyone leave a game like that, wishing him a speedy recovery.
— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) November 18, 2016
I regard @LukeKuechly as one of the great examples in the #NFL in every regard. Hope injury not as serious as his emotions suggested
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 18, 2016
The Panthers have yet to update Kuechly’s status.
