CHARLOTTE – Chants of "LUUUUKE" filled Bank of America Stadium like we've heard for years. But this one was different.
This one was to salute linebacker Luke Kuechly as he was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter.
"That was a tough moment for the entire stadium," tight end Greg Olsen said.
Kuechly struggled to get to his feet after tackling Saints running back Tim Hightower. He stayed down as the training staff rushed onto the field.
By the time the cart was called, Kuechly was visibly distraught. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. Kuechly missed three games with a concussion early last season.
"He was just telling us to keep fighting," safety Kurt Coleman said before taking a long pause. "And that's Luke. Luke is a fighter, and we fight for each other. We're going to continue to fight for him."
Said defensive end Charles Johnson: "We rally around that guy. Luke is our leader. We just rallied behind him."
But seeing Kuechly in that state was difficult for everyone.
"It's tough. You could see it on his face that he was pretty visibly upset," Olsen said. "It's hard. It's one of your buddies, one of your guys pretty shaken up. It's tough. You just hope he's OK. That's really all we can do. The doctors will do what they feel is best."
Kuechly wasn't the only Panther forced to leave Thursday night's game due to injury.
Center Ryan Kalil's shoulder injury flared up and he exited the game in the second half. Kalil, who missed the previous two games, wore a brace on his shoulder in his return to action.
"He just couldn't go anymore," head coach Ron Rivera said. "His shoulder got sore so we took him out."
Defensive end Mario Addison, who recorded two of Carolina's three sacks, injured his foot in the second half and did not return. Same goes for nickel corner Leonard Johnson, who suffered a chest injury in the third quarter.
Carolina's 23-20 victory over New Orleans was much needed for a team desperate to stay in the playoff hunt. But it came at a cost.
"You are always concerned about your players," Rivera said. "That's the hard part. That's the hard part of this game."
View game action photos from Carolina's 23-20 victory over New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees (9) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Mario Addison (97) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. The Panthers recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) runs past New Orleans Saints' Paul Kruger (99) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Ted Ginn (19) runs against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New Orleans Saints' Tim Hightower (34) is tackled by Carolina Panthers' Shaq Thompson (54) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New Orleans Saints' Ken Crawley (46) knocks pass from Carolina Panthers' Devin Funchess (17) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) is sacked by New Orleans Saints' Dannell Ellerbe (59) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) reacts to intercepting a New Orleans Saints pass in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) scrambles against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) runs past New Orleans Saints' Thomas Morstead (6) as he returns a blocked field goal attempt in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) celebrates a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) runs after a catch as New Orleans Saints' Vonn Bell (48) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) looks to pass against the New Orleans Saints in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New Orleans Saints' Brandon Coleman (16) catches a touchdown pass as Carolina Panthers' Robert McClain (27) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) prepares to throw a pass as New Orleans Saints' Craig Robertson (52) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New Orleans Saints' Marcus Murphy (23) leaps over Carolina Panthers' Michael Griffin (22) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) stops New Orleans Saints' Tim Hightower (34) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Kuechly was injured on the play. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) is helped on the field after being injured against the New Orleans Saints in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) is taken off the field after being injured in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' James Bradberry (24) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints' Willie Snead (83) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees (9) looks to pass under pressure from Carolina Panthers' Kony Ealy (94) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New Orleans Saints' Coby Fleener (82) catches a touchdown pass as Carolina Panthers' David Mayo (55) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
