Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly wasn't on the field with teammates at the start of practice Wednesday and there is growing belief he won't play this weekend, Bill Voth of Black & Blue Review reports.

Kuechly suffered a concussion in Week 1 and still hasn't been cleared for contract.

The Panthers' bye is in Week 5, providing the team with the opportunity to sit Kuechly for one more week and then bring him back on Oct. 18, ideally fully recovered, for what looks like a difficult matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.