Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns and cornerback CJ Henderson both suffered concussions during Sunday’s loss to the Colts. It’s tough enough to recover from a head injury during a full week, but especially hard when you suit up against Thursday night.
The NFL has a strict five-step concussion protocol that must be completed before injured players are cleared to return to the field.
This process usually takes around five days. The Carolina Panthers play in four. That means the Panthers’ already depleted defense could be short two key players when they face the Bears.
Despite having eight players currently on injured reserve, the Panthers’ defense was able to limit the Colts’ top-ten offense to under 200 yards. That’s going to be hard to duplicate without both Brian Burns and CJ Henderson. We’ll get a clearer indication of who will be available and who won’t on Tuesday.