CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera on Friday described the possibility that middle linebacker Luke Kuechly has suffered his second career concussion concerning.After expressing his worry over Kuechlys injury, Rivera quickly added, I dont want to get into the speculation of all of that. Im not the expert.Kuechly was placed in the concussion protocol after he was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter Thursday night of a?23-20 win?over the New Orleans Saints. He appeared to take a helmet-to-helmet hit on a tackle of Saints running back?Tim Hightower.He was in tears as he rode off toward the locker room Thursday night while fans screamed Luuuuke!The picture of Kuechly in tears left an impression on many who saw it, including Carolina players.I get that part, Rivera said. Heres a guy thats a warrior. He loves the game, and it was an emotional time for him, an emotional time for his teammates. His teammates know how important it is to him.Rivera would not speculate on how much time Kuechly might miss. The 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year missed three games last season with a concussion suffered in the opener at Jacksonville.Kuechly appeared in much better spirits Friday. Outside linebacker Thomas Davis posted a picture of himself with Kuechly holding his thumb up.Kuechly is the sixth Panthers player to be diagnosed with a concussion during the regular season and the seventh since the preseason. That leads the NFL, with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins tied with five each.Left tackle Michael Oher has missed seven straight games with a concussion, and there is no timetable for his return. Quarterback Cam Newton missed one game with a concussion.Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a message for Kuechly as he left the field Thursday.I tried to let him know that I was going to be praying for him, Brees said. He is ... certainly one of the best football players Ive ever seen and played against. And I hope that hes OK.The Panthers will have 10 days before their next game. Its rare for a player to be cleared from the protocol in seven or fewer days, and because Kuechly previously has suffered a concussion, it could make his recovery longer.After the game, Carolina players obviously were affected by the injury to Kuechly as well as to center Ryan Kalil (shoulder) and defensive end Mario Addison (foot). There was no celebrating in the locker room.We rally behind that guy, Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson said about Kuechly. Hes our leader. When you see a leader go down like that, we just rally behind him. Im keeping Luke in my prayers.Tight end Greg Olsen said the only good thing that came out of the game was the win. He said it was tough seeing the look on Kuechlys face as he was carted off the field.Safety Kurt Coleman was one of several players who mentioned he was praying for Kuechly.It looked like the same exact thing that happened in Jacksonville last year, Coleman said. He was yelling to us to continue to fight. Its remarkable in a sense.Just hoping its precautionary and he will be back sooner rather than later. Thats all I can hope for.Players on offense were impacted as well.Thats our leader, one of the key components of our team, fullback Mike Tolbert said. Its more than that. Hes a brother of ours, so when we see him down, a guy thats as tough as he is and as mighty and strong spirited as he is, to see him in that predicament, it really hits home.The Panthers already were without outside linebacker A.J. Klein, who suffered a concussion last week.Kuechly was one of several key players injured Thursday night, along with Kalil?and Saints running back Mark Ingram (possible concussion) in the third quarter.Kalil had missed two straight games with an injury to his right shoulder. It wasnt immediately clear which shoulder was injured Thursday.Ingram was injured on a 13-yard run when he collided with Coleman?as he went down. Ingram lay on the ground for a few seconds before getting up and walking off slowly. Later, he headed to the locker room to be evaluated for a possible concussion.Information from ESPN staff writer Mike Triplett and The Associated Press was used in this report. Clearance Vans Shoes NZ . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Vans Shoes NZ Online .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. http://www.vanssalenz.com/ . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Cheap Vans Shoes NZ . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Discount Vans Shoes NZ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky focused more on the outcome than the aesthetics against Vanderbilt, taking the most pride in the clutch plays that made it happen.Stephen Johnson rushed for a touchdown and converted a big fourth-and-1 play late in the game leading to Austin MacGinnis 28-yard field goal, and the Wildcats defense stifled the Commodores late to survive with a 20-13 victory on Saturday.Needing a spark to slow Vanderbilts momentum after scoring 10 straight points, the Wildcats turned to their ground game led by Benny Snell Jr. (20 carries, 94 yards) and Jojo Kemp with just under 8 minutes remaining. The duo positioned Kentucky to cash in a third and final time on fourth down as Johnson stretched for 1 yard to the Commodores 19.Our main motto has just been finishing and we did a great job, Kemp said. We just have to keep it going.Kentucky didnt take a chance on a final fourth-and-1 at the 10, and MacGinnis kick with 1:38 left provided a cushion that proved huge as Vanderbilt, with no timeouts, quickly drove 59 yards to the 8 seeking at least a tie. But a costly delay-of-game penalty was sandwiched between several incompletions by Kyle Shurmur, including a fourth-down attempt that went off Kalija Lipscombs hands in the left corner of the end zone with 2 seconds left.Relief and celebration followed as Kentucky (3-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) got halfway toward its goal of becoming bowl eligible, a prospect that seemed unlikely after starting 0-2. The Wildcats also got a measure of revenge against Vanderbilt after losing 21-17 last fall in Nashville.Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-3 SEC) meanwhile fell short in its quest to give coach Derek Mason his first conference road win.Kemp had a 4-yard TD run on a direct snap for the Wildcats. Kemp, Johnson and Stanley Boom Williams each ran for at least 54 yards as Kentucky gained 258 on 52 attempts.Most importantly, the Wildcats made huge, timely plays when needed on bboth sides of the ball to protect a lead that seemed in doubt as the Commodores tried to rally from a 17-3 halftime deficit.ddddddddddddI told them that there was no way in heck that this wasnt going to come down to being a close game, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. I knew theyd hang in there somehow and make a play, get a turnover, make something happen. And thats what happened.Vanderbilts only TD came on Taurean Fergusons 22-yard fumble return early in the third.Commodores running back and SEC rushing leader Ralph Webb had 100 yards on 18 carries and became the schools career leader in attempts. Shurmur completed 17 of 29 passes for 141 yards.We cant afford to get behind and play catch-up football, Mason said. We have to start faster.THE TAKEAWAYVanderbilt: The Commodores converted just 3 of 12 third-down opportunities and couldnt slow the Wildcats ground game. Vandy has dropped all three league contests by 17 combined points.Kentucky: The Wildcats scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season and seemed to be in control after scoring their second TD just before halftime. They sputtered in the third quarter with two turnovers but still outgained Vanderbilt 307-282.LUCKY BOUNCEVanderbilts Ryan White fumbled two punts, the second of which was right in the hands of Kentucky cornerback J.D. Harmon. But he couldnt corral the loose ball while Bryce Lewis did at the `Dores 7, a reversal of fortune that culminated in Openshaws 26-yard field goal that made it close.UP NEXTVanderbilt: The Commodores hit the road for the fourth time in five games as they visit Georgia on Saturday.Kentucky: The Wildcats have a bye before hosting Mississippi State on Oct. 22.---AP College Football: collegefootball.ap.org---Gary B. Graves on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryBGraves ' ' '