Kuechly, one of the NFL’s best linebackers, is out of the concussion protocol but didn’t play Monday night against Washington.
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“Luke is a person that could potentially be the greatest linebacker that has ever played — straight up,” Newton told reporters Thursday. “I don’t think, for me, I would want to jeopardize that for a long, long-term issue just to bring him back.”
The Panthers (6-8) play the Falcons (9-5) on Sunday, and coach Ron Rivera hasn’t said whether Kuechly will play.
Newton has taken some vicious hits this season. He missed one game with a concussion and spent time in the league’s protocol.
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“Man, I been playing this game since I was 7 years old. Twenty years playing this game. And this one year I’ve been enlightened on just the understanding of a concussion,” Newton said. “It’s been a lot of hits. Big hits, tough hits. Wooziness. But nothing like a hit that occurred when I had the concussion.
“It’s nothing to play with, I can tell you that. And you see guys who have things stemming back from their concussion years removed from the game.”
