Luke Kuechly carted off field on Thursday Night Football (Video)

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.

The Carolina Panthers were leading 23-13 late in the fourth quarter at home on Thursday Night Football against their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints. Carolina looked poised to win an important divisional game before it saw its best defensive player succumb to injury.

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly had to exit the game on what seems to be a serious leg injury. Kuechly got his left leg pinned under Saints running back Tim Hightower on a tackle. He had to be carted off the field on Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Panthers faithful were stunned.

There wasn’t a clear indication of if Kuechly broke his ankle or tore a ligament in his knee, but the Panthers’ defensive star was sobbing and in obvious pain. It could potentially be a season-ending injury for Kuechly, whose Panthers are fighting tooth and nail to stay alive in the NFC Playoffs race.

Kuechly was able to somewhat stand up before being carted off on Thursday night, but it did not look good for him in the slightest. He was emotional knowing that his 2016 NFL season has probably come to a close in Week 11.

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This is a devastating loss for the Panthers defense, as Kuechly is the best player in their front seven. Carolina has struggled all year in the secondary, but by sheer will, Kuechly had helped make the Panthers competitive defensively in recent weeks.

Losing Kuechly for probably the rest of the season does not bode well for the Panthers’ playoff chances. He’s key to this defense. One would have to assume that veteran linebacker Thomas Davis takes over for Kuechly in terms of defensive signal calling.