Panthers’ Keith Kirkwood launched from hospital, concussed after scary hit by rookie J.T. Ibe, who was waived

The Carolina Panthers held their first padded follow of coaching camp on Tuesday and that enhanced stage of physicality might have been a step too far in a single occasion. In response to these on the scene in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the session was stopped momentarily after security J.T. Ibe leveled huge receiver Keith Kirkwood, who was ultimately taken away in an ambulance.  

Kirkwood, who had two damaged collarbones final season, was down on the sphere as gamers and coaches gathered round him. The medical employees then put a backboard beneath the pass-catcher and he was then carted off and brought away in an ambulance. Following follow, head coach Matt Rhule mentioned that Kirkwood was shifting his legs following the hit. The workforce introduced Kirkwood has since been launched from the hospital after sustaining a concussion. 

“I do not need anybody to get harm,” Rhule mentioned. “Anytime a participant will get harm it bothers me, whether or not it is one thing like that or a man pulls his hamstring. I simply acknowledge how a lot work these guys put in and the way vital this time is for them. All people, whether or not it is a man like Keith I coached in faculty or a man that simply bought right here every week in the past. As a person, as an individual I do not like seeing anybody laying there in ache or hurting or simply lacking reps or battling via it. I am unable to stand these issues. However accidents do occur in soccer. Nevertheless it’s vital to me that when our gamers do get banged up, … they know their worth to me and us isn’t just what they do on the sphere. We care about who they’re.”

In the meantime, Ibe, who signed with the workforce as an undrafted free agent again in April out of South Carolina, was kicked out of shape and has since been waived by the workforce. 

“That utterly unacceptable to do one thing like that,” mentioned Rhule. “There’s issues, bang-bang performs, that occur. Guys will hit the bottom, however you’ll be able to’t tee off on any individual. That is not what we’ll do. It is undisciplined by us, so that may’t occur.” 

Kirkwood is coming into his second season with the Panthers after signing with the membership in April of final 12 months. His arrival to Carolina reunited the receiver with Matt Rhule, who was additionally his head coach throughout his days at Temple. These collarbone accidents restricted his availability throughout his first season with the workforce, catching only one move for 13 yards. Again in February, Kirkwood signed a one-year extension to stick with the Panthers via this coming season.