TAMPA, Fla. -- Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly wouldn't say Sunday whether he actually suffered a concussion that forced him to miss last week’s game at Chicago.

Kuechly returned for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay, collecting eight tackles and an interception in the 17-3 victory.

But when asked about a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he didn't suffer his third concussion in three years in an Oct. 12 loss to Philadelphia, the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year repeatedly said, “I’m not going to get into it."

“It’s one of those things they threw me in the protocol and some of that stuff I’m not going to get into," Kuechly said. “But regardless they’re going to handle everything as best they can and I think we as a unit and an organization, we’ve handled it really well over the past years regardless of who gets them.

“With me and Cam [Newton] obviously got one last year, and they don’t play with them."

Kuechly missed three games after suffering a concussion in the 2015 opener at Jacksonville. He was in the concussion protocol for three more games last season and held out the next three after being cleared as a precaution with the Panthers out of playoff contention.

Asked how he was able to come back from this situation so much faster than the others, Kuechly said, “They’re all very different. It’s one of those things that you try to come back as quick as you can but you’ve got to be smart with it. Our guys do an excellent job with that. They’re cautious. They make sure everything is crossed off.

“It wasn’t like the last two years. To me, that makes me happy to get back out there sooner. For us, it’s about making sure I’m good versus pushing me out there too fast."

Kuechly was evaluated for a concussion after taking a hard hit to the neck and shoulder area in the second quarter against Philadelphia. It was announced he was in the protocol in the second half.

Three days later, Schefter reported, citing sources, that the team did not believe Kuechly had a concussion. Kuechly was listed as out with a concussion when the first official injury report came out prior to the Chicago game.

“They threw me into the protocol," Kuechly said. “We’re not going to get into the specifics on it."

But there’s no doubt the Panthers are better with Kuechly. Their record is 5-5 when he’s been in the protocol and now 17-7 when he plays since 2015.

“The guy is the best middle linebacker in the league," outside linebacker Thomas Davis said. “So whenever we have him on the field, we’re a much better team."