Carolina Panthers No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin took a big hit from Cincinnati Bengals star linebacker Vontae Burfict in last week’s 37-37 tie, but he was able to return to the game. It didn’t seem like he suffered a significant injury, but he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. We soon found out that Benjamin suffered a concussion in Week 6 and was in the concussion protocol, making him a true toss-up for this week’s game, especially since teams are generally more cautious with rookies (Benjamin also suffered a concussion last year while at Florida State).
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That said, most people expected Benjamin to suit up for this week’s game against the Green Bay Packers, and the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the talented wideout has been cleared to play. The Packers will have to watch for his size and explosive playmaking ability, as Benjamin has been pretty darn good to start his career and is one of the team’s most important players as the “X” receiver. He isn’t the finished product, but he’s made a bigger impact than some expected.
Packers starting cornerbacks Sam Shields and Tramon Williams have been very good this season, but the team could miss both players today with injuries. If even one of them is out, then Benjamin will have a much better chance of having a big day. He’s already averaging nearly 70 receiving yards per game, and the Packers normally tough pass defense could become a nice matchup for him without those two, especially since he gets a steady volume of targets.