When the first-team defense takes the field for the start of team drills, the all-everything linebacker assumes his rightful position in the middle of the action – until the action actually begins.
"I honestly don't say a whole lot. I just want to be out there, man," Kuechly said. "It feels like I'm out there without being out there."
Kuechly, still rehabbing from shoulder surgery in February, has taken part in the offseason workout program since it started in April but not in the team parts. Like he did in 2016, when he had the same shoulder on the labrum in his left shoulder, Kuechly isn't rushing back and is instead targeting a full return come training camp in about six weeks.