Vontaze Burfict got a slap on the wrist to twisting the ankles of Cam Newton and Greg Olsen, but unlike those, one of the plays he was flagged for is having a lasting effect on rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin who suffered a mild concussion during the game.
Burfict was penalized for unnecessary roughness for the second-quarter hit on Benjamin, who left the game following the 7-yard completion. Benjamin returned in the third quarter after passing the in-game concussion tests, according to Panthers coach Ron Rivera.
“That’s the only reason he went back in the game,” Rivera said.
Rivera said Benjamin came to the stadium with a headache Monday morning, and was placed in the concussion protocol. Rivera called it a “mild” concussion.
No decision has been made about Benjamin’s status for Sunday.