Kurt Coleman Comments on Short Week After Luke Kuechly Injury vs. Saints

Four Carolina Panthers players were injured in the second half and didn't return for the team's 23-20 Week 11 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. It prompted Panthers safety Kurt Coleman to question the impact short weeks might have on player health.

According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Coleman said:

"

You never know. It is what it is. That's the way the league is.

I don't know what the statistics say, and some may say it's the exact same. The same amount of people get hurt on a Thursday as they do on a Sunday, you don't know. I know how I feel going into a Thursday. It's not the same way as I feel on a Sunday. But both teams are feeling the same way and it's a fair, competitive match.

"

The players included center Ryan Kalil, defensive end Mario Addison, cornerback Leonard Johnson and linebacker Luke Kuechly. The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram in the third quarter; he didn't return, either.

Kuechly had to be carted off the field. 

The All-Pro was in tears as he was taken to the locker room, and he is currently in the NFL's concussion protocol, per ESPN.com's David Newton.

Thursday Night Football has been an NFL fixture since 2006, and the schedule was adjusted to its current format in 2012.

The Thursday night games air on NFL Network and have been simulcast on CBS and NBC this season. According to CNBC Now, fees for the rights are around $450 million.

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