The Panthers have been coy about the long-term plans for their linebacking corps, but it sounds like they’ll be sticking with Jon Beason as their middle linebacker a little while longer.
Beason missed the loss to the Seahawks with shoulder and knee injuries, but said that he expects to return to the lineup when the Panthers face the Cowboys after their bye. He also said that expects to be in the lineup at middle linebacker with rookie Luke Kuechly, who started there on Sunday, moving back to his previous spot on the weak side.
“That’s what’s been communicated to me, so I’m sticking with that,” Beason said, via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “I’ve been playing the Mike thus far, and I don’t anticipate anything different.”
Kuechly was a standout on the inside at Boston College and played very well in the spot against the Seahawks, leading coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to say that they would consider whether or not to make a more permanent switch in the coming weeks. It’s a question they’ve been batting around since drafting Kuechly in the first round.
For his part, the rookie says he’s fine playing wherever the Panthers decide to fit him into the lineup. Given his play and spot in the draft, it would seem to be just a matter of time before Kuechly winds up in the middle even if no move is imminent.