Newton: Kuechly should sit out last 2 games to preserve health

The Carolina Panthers' best offensive player wants the team's best defensive player to sit out the final two games of the season.

Cam Newton said Thursday that linebacker Luke Kuechly, who recently cleared the NFL's concussion protocol, should play it safe in the interest of his long-term health.

"Listen, it's no denying the truth,'' Newton said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "At this particular point our chances of making it to the playoffs is minimal. Now Luke is a player that could potentially be the greatest linebacker to ever play. Straight up.

"I don't think, for me, I would want to jeopardize that for a long-term issue to just bring him back. I'm not talking for (head trainer Ryan Vermillion), I'm not talking for coach, and I'm definitely not talking for Luke. But in the end it's coming from a person who also sustained a concussion."

Kuechly hasn't played since suffering a concussion and leaving the field in tears in Week 11, but has maintained that he wants to play again this season.

With the Panthers all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, it's possible the team's coaches will make the decision for him and place him on IR.

"So he can take all the time he needs, because the long-term goal for this team is to be in the playoffs and to play for Super Bowls,'' Newton said. "If our guy is not healthy, who is there to blame? We want him to get back to 100 percent.

"We want him back out there, but at the end of the day, if he's not ready to be back there, just take your time.''