AP

The Panthers are going to have to try to slow Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson without a pair of key defensive parts.

According to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, veteran defensive end Jared Allen has been ruled out for Sunday’s trip to Seattle, after a pinched nerve has caused numbness in his foot and leg.

It will be just the third start he’s missed in his career because of injury, but the Panthers are trying to be prudent with the 33-year-old, rather than sticking him on a plane today bound for the Northwest.

The Panthers will also be without linebacker A.J. Klein, who replaced Luke Kuechly in the starting lineup for three weeks, and then replaced Kuechly in the concussion protocol. Kuechly returned this week, and is listed as probable for Sunday’s game.

Klein said earlier this week he didn’t think he suffered a concussion in the Buccaneers game before the bye week, but was just dealing with an illness and headaches. But he met with the independent neurologist yesterday and was not cleared, in yet another example of why coaches and players themselves should be allowed nowhere near decisions on brain injuries.