Kuechly didn't have a concussion to begin with.

[Ken]

3 hours ago, uncfan888 said:

I wish we could wrap his head in a bubble... These concussions are slowly killing a hall of fame career

Sadly, even if we could do that, he can still get a concussion.

[Ken]

31 minutes ago, wud35 said:

because ESPN is assume news. They assume and hope it becomes real. they put him in the protocol. that doesn't mean He does or doesn't have a concussion, just that he was put in the protocol.

Or, now this is a crazy thought, ESPN is made up of numerous different people, who have different sources/information/opinions.

[csx]

27 minutes ago, xav8tor said:

If you read the links to the protocol and other resources, including those for the players, unless they went outside the scope of the rules, it means that he didn't pass the battery of tests to rule out a concussion, which, in medical speak, essentially means he is being treated as if he does have one. No it's not necessarily conclusive, but, at some point, he exhibited sufficient signs of one. Putting him in the protocol doesn't make sense otherwise. They could have held him out as a precaution without putting him in the protocol, unless, they had the requisite evidence to think that he, more likely than not, did have one. Like everyone, I hope he doesn't, but close review of the play, coupled with his history, and him not practicing today, is reason to remove any rose colored glasses and take this situation seriously.

The protocol doesn't work or make sense at all if you don't apply it very liberally.  The Mayo Clinic says that symptoms may not show up immediately. Therefore the only way to approach the situation of determining whether or not to enter the player in to the protocol within an hour of the incident is to look at the incident and be more apt than not to place the player in the protocol. 

People are optimistic because the immediate words about Luke were all positive. There is no downside to realistic optimism. Now if there weren't encouraging words at all I would be pessimistic about the outcome. In the end our attitude doesn't affect anything. 

[thunderraiden]

There is ansolutely no reason to bring Luke out of the protocol until Friday that I can think of.

[PantherNation123]

8 minutes ago, thunderraiden said:

There is ansolutely no reason to bring Luke out of the protocol until Friday that I can think of.

Except that Rivera and co. have proven to be outrageously conservative.  Even if he is "out of the protocol" and didn't have a concussion, I could easily see them keeping him sidelined for precaution (which makes no sense).  The sooner he is out of it, the better.

[csx]

I believe today is the the first day of practice, correct? So how could they even go through the protocol without doing things like having to see how he responds to things like the bright sun and jogging like he did today? There is no shortcut to the process I don't believe.

[xav8tor]

2 hours ago, csx said:

I believe today is the the first day of practice, correct? So how could they even go through the protocol without doing things like having to see how he responds to things like the bright sun and jogging like he did today? There is no shortcut to the process I don't believe.

It's progressive. Stages may also repeat before going on to the next one. There's no shortcut, but also, no time or speed limit. For everyone who still has questions or doesn't want to read the protocol and related material, here's a short summary of a summary:

1.. Rest...until all signs and symptoms are gone and test results return to baseline.

2.. Light Aerobics...graduated CV, stretching and balance exercise under medical supervision.

3.. Strength...continue aerobics, mimic sports activities, add strength training, all under supervision.

4.. Football Activities...continue the above and add non contact football things like throwing, catching, running, and position related drills.

5.. Full Activity/Return...clearance by team physician, then full examination by independent neurological consultant. If concurrence, then cleared for contact practice and/or game participation.

If signs/symptoms reappear, or measures fall below baseline, back to square one, rinse and repeat prn. If not, go Luuuuuuuke!

That's it in a highly oversimplified nutshell.

[General_Purr]

We will still have low-key softies telling him, another grown man to retire. 

Luke is the GOAT. The hit he had looked more like it hurt his shoulder that he keeps wrapped up more than any part of his head. He was at an angle as well as slipping in the grass when a 300 pound hog mollie just helped push him into the grass on his side.

[xav8tor]

2 minutes ago, General_Purr said:

We will still have low-key softies telling him, another grown man to retire. 

Luke is the GOAT. The hit he had looked more like it hurt his shoulder that he keeps wrapped up more than any part of his head. He was at an angle as well as slipping in the grass when a 300 pound hog mollie just helped push him into the grass on his side.

Go back and review the replay frame buy frame if you still doubt the possible. A direct hit to the head is not required. Part one is a neck snap with rapid directional change, which is all it takes in certain instances. Part two was head contact with the ground, assisted by a forearm to the head. That can do it too. Neither has to LOOK violent to cause damage. The observed hit(s) are a reason to initiate the sideline eval, which is a trigger for the locker room battery. The hit is not diagnostic. The tests are. If he didn't exhibit signs/symptoms and/or fall below baseline, it would not have been required to place him in the protocol. Per the protocol, players are placed in it according to specific criteria. Pure "caution" is not one I read. Regardless, he's in it, and even not having inside info, clearly, they are following it...

Based upon media reports, Twitter, etc., today, assuming they are correct, Luke is either in stage two, or possibly three (e.g., if he did additional, more intense, aerobics and strength training indoors/unobserved). He was seen doing light jogging and stretching at practice. Therefore, it sounds more like two, but optimistically, on day five, call it about halfway through the protocol.  If he's seen tomorrow doing strength stuff, it's three. Position drills = four. Helmet/pads and contact, he's good to go, but as with last year, even with medical clearance, Rivera could still hold him out. That kind of precaution is, of course, allowed.

[Dragoon11]

10 hours ago, xav8tor said:

If you read the links to the protocol and other resources, including those for the players, unless they went outside the scope of the rules, it means that he didn't pass the battery of tests to rule out a concussion, which, in medical speak, essentially means he is being treated as if he does have one. No it's not necessarily conclusive, but, at some point, he exhibited sufficient signs of one. Putting him in the protocol doesn't make sense otherwise. They could have held him out as a precaution without putting him in the protocol, unless, they had the requisite evidence to think that he, more likely than not, did have one. Like everyone, I hope he doesn't, but close review of the play, coupled with his history, and him not practicing today, is reason to remove any rose colored glasses and take this situation seriously.

He didn't practice today because he's still in protocol correct??.....But if he's cleared in next day or two he could still play against Bears??? Unless of course the team just takes extra precaution because of history, and maybe other injury related to play.

[Dragoon11]

10 minutes ago, Dragoon11 said:

He didn't practice today because he's still in protocol correct??.....But if he's cleared in next day or two he could still play against Bears??? Unless of course the team just takes extra precaution because of history, and maybe other injury related to play.

Never mind, after further reading my question is answered....lol

[KittyLover]

Maybe they want the bears to assume he's not playing. 

[tondi]

Smokescreen!!

[Peppers90 NC]

so what exactly happened for him to miss the rest of the game? just precautionary?