Plenty of attention has focused on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict after he twisted the ankles of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen. But another play involving Burfict could have a much bigger impact on Carolina this week.

Receiver Kelvin Benjamin sat out Wednesday’s practice with a concussion he apparently suffered while taking a hit from Burfict early in the second quarter of Sunday’s tie. There didn’t appear to be helmet-to-helmet contact on the play, but Burfict was penalized for hitting a defenseless receiver. Benjamin left the game briefly and returned after talking to Panthers’ trainers and doctors.

“He came in on Monday, and he had a little bit of a headache. So they looked at him, and they feel he has a mild concussion, so they put him in the protocol, and well go from there,” head coach Ron Rivera said.

When asked how his offense would look in Green Bay this Sunday if the 6-5 Benjamin can’t play, Rivera replied, “shorter.”

But the Panthers’ offense can ill afford to be without the league’s top rookie wideout in a game with the Packers that will likely require as many points as possible.

If Benjamin doesn’t play, receivers Brenton Bersin and Philly Brown will see more snaps. Backup quarterback Joe Webb also spent some time at Wednesday’s practice playing wideout.

“We feel good about the guys that are playing,” Rivera said. “We’re running the ball better, (Newton’s) running the ball a little bit more now. We’ll have (running back) Jonathan (Stewart) back on the field, it looks like. So I think we’re going to be ok, whether (Benjamin’s) out there or not.”

Burfict was reportedly fined $25,000 for his ankle twisting on Newton and Olsen, but the linebacker, who has been fined at least three times previously, was not suspended.

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