CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9)
New faces: DT Gerald McCoy, C Matt Paradis, DE Bruce Irvin, OLB Brian Burns, OT Greg Little, QB Will Grier, WR Chris Hogan.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers coach Ron Rivera says three-time All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly will play against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday if he's cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 has missed the last two games with a concussion.
Kuechly is listed as questionable and Rivera says he hopes he can play, saying "anytime you got your leader out there, it is a doggone good thing."
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NFC champion Panthers kept only three of their five draft picks this year, waiving cornerback Zack Sanchez and tight end Beau Sandland to trim their roster to 53 players on Saturday.
Sanchez was a fifth-round selection and Sandland a seventh-rounder.
Backup guard Chris Scott was placed on the reserve/suspended list after being suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the policy on performance enhancing substances.