CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly practiced Wednesday for the first time since leaving the field in tears with a concussion late in a Nov. 17 home game against New Orleans.The three-time Pro Bowl selection still hasnt been cleared from the concussion?protocol, so his status for Sundays home game against San Diego remains in question.But coach Ron Rivera said Kuechly has advanced to the next stage of the protocol and will be re-evaluated by the medical staff Thursday.Rivera added there never has been any consideration of sitting Kuechly for the final four games now that the Panthers (4-8) are all but out of playoff contention.Hes a football player, Rivera said. If he passes the protocol and he wants to play and the doctors want him to play, hell play. Its that simple. I dont control the protocol.Kuechly, who has missed the past two games, missed three games last season after suffering a concussion in the opener at Jacksonville.The Panthers gave up a combined 900 yards and 75 points the past two weeks with Kuechly out of the lineup in losses at Oakland and Seattle.Its one of those things, when guys get back on the football field, it brings a little energy, Rivera said. He sparked a little energy for the defense again.Tight end Ed Dickson said Kuechly defended him on pass routes a couple of times in practice.Anytime that guy is on the field, we have a chance to win, Dickson said.Kuechly, the NFLs leading tackler since he entered the league in 2012, still leads Carolina in tackles with 112. Outside linebacker Thomas Davis is second with 100.Starting strong safety Kurt Coleman also returned to practice Wednesday after missing Sundays 40-7 loss at Seattle with a concussion.Missing at practice was defensive end Charles Johnson, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Seahawks. Rivera said Johnsons status will be week-to-week.Defensive end Mario Addison worked on the side for the first time since suffering a foot injury in the New Orleans game. Josh Rosen Youth Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Christian Kirk Football Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. http://www.arizonacardinalsshoponline.com/christian-kirk-cardinals-jersey.html . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Arizona Cardinals Apparel Clearance . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Chandler Jones Limited Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. CHASKA, Minn. -- Team USA got off to a strong start Friday at the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, sweeping Team Europe in the morning foursomes 4-0.But before the session even began, the fans helped set the tone at the first tee, as more than 51,000 fans were crammed onto the course for the first day of matches.With a Ryder Cup golf bag of the late Arnold Palmer standing alone on the ground below (it was from when he captained the U.S. team in 1975), supporters from both sides saluted their hero: AR-NOLD PAL-MER! AR-NOLD PAL-MER! It was enough to give your goose bumps the chills:The American fans, borrowing a chant from their soccer brethren, later chanted: I believe that we will win!To which one of the blue and gold-clad European fans invariably responded: I believe that we will win.And its only Day 1, people. Here are a few other tidbits you might have missed from Friday morning:The sure thing and the surpriseTwo years ago, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed went undefeated as partners, leaving Gleneagles with a 2-0-1 record together. It made sense that U.S. captain Davis Love III not only would pair them again here but also would send the fire-and-ice duo out in the first match against the formidable team of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. It was a match the Americans would never trail, as Spieth rolled in birdie putts on the second and third holes. They stayed at least 2-up for the entirety of this one, winning 3 and 2 and keeping that undefeated record intact. Theyll team up again in afternoon four-balls. If they keep winning, dont be surprised to see Spieth and Reed play all four team matches together.Ryder Cup 2016: Complete schedule, rosters and formatThe second match of the morning foursomes session had more twists and turns than a roller coaster. The turning point -- strange as it might sound in the aftermath -- might have been the Americans making a mess of the sixth hole. Phil Mickelson drove one shot out of bounds, followed by Rickie Fowler hitting one against a fence, followed by Lefty trying, unsuccessfully, to hit a right-handed shot. They would lose that hole, but it spurred them on to win each of the next three with birdies. The roller coaster didnt end there, though. The European team of Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan would battle back from 1-down after 10 holes to take a 2-up lead through 14. Directly after that, for the second time in the match, Mickelson and Fowler would win three in a row, culminating with Fowlers brilliant tee shot on the par-3 17th hole that eventually led to a victory. IIt was perhaps the best outcome for two U.ddddddddddddS. players who had the biggest bulls-eyes on their backs heading into the event. -- Jason SobelWheres Tiger?Love, the U.S. captain, said he has a strategy for how he will deploy vice captain Tiger Woods through the weekend. He says he believes people will be watching Tiger watch golf and that he expects that the superstar could buoy certain pairings at crucial moments.So far so good.Woods followed Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar in their foursome match against Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters. The American pair stormed out to a 5-up lead after eight holes, with Johnsons putting leading the way, before winning the match outright. -- ESPN.com news servicesA fan fashion timeoutFans on both sides did not disappoint Friday. Here are a few memorable looks from Team USA supporters:(P.S. Rocky has looked better.)Sports celeb sightingMichael Jordan ... in the house:Dont count em out yetThat was the message from Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia after the U.S. swept the morning foursomes to go up 4-0 in the Ryder Cup.Its a different game we play in the afternoon, and I think we are all ready, Kaymer said. We are fired up. We want to keep that trophy and bring it home to Europe.Kaymer and Garcia were on the losing end of their match to Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson, who closed them out, 4 and 2, on the 16th hole. The matches were played before massive crowds that were vocal in their support of the American team.Obviously they are very excited, Garcia said. They should be. But you know, its our job to hopefully quiet them down a little bit and see if we can do that this afternoon. -- The Associated PressTip of the hatAs the morning fog cleared during the morning session Friday, some of the Team Europe players, including Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, were playing without their official baseball caps. Strange? According to team captain Darren Clarke, not really.We dont all wear hats. Some guys wear them. Some guys dont, he said. You know, its not -- the hats are there. I think theres maybe 10 different choices of hats in the locker room and they had the choice if they want to, whichever one they want or if they dont want to wear any at all. Sometimes the guys just, they dont want to wear [them] -- theres no particular reason for it. --Kevin MaguireA fan fashion timeout, Part IITeam Europe fans didnt disappoint, either. Here are a few looks: ' ' '