Panthers: Upcoming season pivotal for Luke Kuechly’s career
With concussions becoming prevalent, Luke Kuechly gets ready for 2018.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is one of the most talented linebackers in the National Football League. When healthy, he is a force both in terms of tackling and while in pursuit of the football. That is just the thing: When healthy, he is one of the best. Ultimately, health might be the one thing that keeps him from sustaining success. Perhaps that is why the 2018 season is perhaps the biggest of his career to this point.
Kuechly has had an unfortunate history with concussions. Suffering three in as many seasons, his most recent one came during the Panthers’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football back in October. This one in particular was alarming to many Panthers fans and even the national media took notice. Sports Illustrated wrote a series of articles detailing Kuechly’s concussion problems. One stated that in essence concussions were an unfortunate trend in his career while the other claimed he was the “poster child” for the concussion problem in the NFL.
As much as I hate to say it, the notion that he is a poster child for concussions may be true. Because of this, the 2018 season is a pivotal one.
There is no doubt he can produce. With five Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro selections, it would be difficult to say otherwise. With 527 tackles 10.5 sacks and 15 interceptions up to this point in his career, it is safe to say he has made his mark. Selected ninth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Boston College, he was the school’s highest draft pick since Matt Ryan was selected with the third overall pick in 2008. His sharp instincts and nose for the football endeared him to many Boston College fans. While at Chestnut Hill, he established himself as one of the top linebackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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Now, entering his seventh season in the league, the uncomfortable question must be asked: If Kuechly suffers one more concussion, should he hang it up for good? My answer is yes. It is a reality that has to be faced. As a big Kuechly fan, I would hate to see it, and so would football fans everywhere. With that being said, his overall health is more important than the game of football.
The 2018 season is monumental for Kuechly. He will either continue to be one of the most cataclysmic linebackers in the National Football League or be sidelined (perhaps for good) by another injury.