Kuechly missed the final two plays of the half but returned to start the third quarter.

The injury didn't appear to affect Kuechly in the postseason, when his only missed snaps came at the end of the NFC Championship Game blowout. He was the Panthers' leading tackler in all three games, and he returned an interception for a touchdown against both the Seahawks and Cardinals.

 

When and How, Part 2

 

It's unclear when Kuechly will have surgery, but it could happen as soon as this week. For an NFL player, the typical recovery time for such a procedure falls between three and six months. Kuechly's rehab is expected to be on the shorter end. That could keep him out of most, if not all, offseason workouts, but back on the field for the start of training camp.

 

How Others Have Fared

 

As famously tough as Kuechly is, a quick glance at the Panthers' recent history with torn labrums is a good reminder that all injuries requiring surgery aren't anything to slough off.

About a month after linebacker Jon Beason played through one before a knee injury ended his season in 2012, a torn labrum sent cornerback Chris Gamble to injured reserve. And midway through Carolina's disastrous 2010 season, quarterback Matt Moore was lost with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

That Kuechly is getting his injury taken care of in the offseason bodes well for his recovery. After Seahawks safety Earl Thomas underwent the same surgery last February, he started all 16 games this season despite beginning training camp on the PUP list.