CHARLOTTE – Linebacker Luke Kuechly is listed as doubtful for Sunday's home opener against the Houston Texans, but head coach Ron Rivera said Kuechly's status could change in either direction Saturday.
Kuechly suffered a concussion in the season opener at Jacksonville and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, still needing to be cleared by an independent neurologist to be considered for game action. Kuechly did not practice this week.
"He has progressed in the protocol, but tomorrow everything has to be answered," Rivera said. "Tomorrow is a big day."
Rivera said that "whatever the independent (doctor) says is what we're going with," but there's no way to know at this point if the doctor will even consider clearing Kuechly in time for Sunday's game.