With their playoff hopes hanging by an impossibly thin thread, the Carolina Panthers have reversed course with their late-season plans for Luke Kuechly.

The linebacker was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol Saturday afternoon, 30 days after he was carted off during the Panthers’ Week 11 win over the Saints.

Last week, coach Ron Rivera denied having thoughts of shutting Kuechly down during a lost season.

“He’s a football player,” Rivera said. “If he passes the protocol and he wants to play and the doctors want him to play, he’ll play. It’s that simple.”

But this is what Rivera said Saturday in a statement released by the team:

“We are excited to have Luke healthy and cleared from the protocol. I know he is extremely motivated to get back on the field and help us win games. Whether he plays this week or not, I don’t know. We have to balance our enthusiasm with what’s best for Luke and the team long term.”

The Panthers will most likely be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention during Sunday’s games. But they’re keeping Kuechly ‘questionable,’ which probably means he’ll only play in Washington Monday night if a postseason run is somehow still possible.

Many fans have wondered why the Panthers wouldn’t shut down Kuechly, who’s suffered two concussions in as many seasons. But instead of throwing caution to the wind, it appears the team will choose to be cautious with their most valuable defensive player.

The sense now is Kuechly won’t play again in 2016, which will allow A.J. Klein, who’s in a contract year, to extend his starting audition.