Receiver Kelvin Benjamin has passed at least the first stage of the NFL’s concussion protocol, and the Panthers are still hoping he can play Sunday against the Packers.

Benjamin, who suffered a concussion early in the second quarter of Sunday’s tie in Cincinnati, went through a few walk-through reps and participated in the team’s stretching period on Thursday. He did not practice, but after passing a test with an independent doctor on Wednesday, Benjamin continued the process to get back on the field with team trainers.

“He did very well with the independent,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “Today he did the next step with our guys and seemed to be doing very well.”

If Benjamin, the NFL’s leading rookie receiver in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, doesn’t play, Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, Brenton Bersin and Philly Brown will all move up a notch in the wideout pecking order.

“The group of wide receivers have done a lot of good things,” Rivera said. “Kelvin does stand out because of the plays he’s made, but we have a group of guys who have been very good, very proficient for us inside our offense.”

The wideouts will likely be joined by a quarterback if Benjamin isn’t ready. Joe Webb, who hasn’t been active since Week 1, continued to take snaps at receiver during Thursday’s practice.

“Would it make sense to have (Webb) up if we only have four wide receivers? Most certainly. So we’ll see how that goes,” Rivera said.