CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ It would be easy to imagine Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, earnest, amiable and sporting a fresh "back-to-school" haircut, whistling the theme song to "Leave it to Beaver" as he comes off the practice field.
But after Tuesday's first minicamp session, the tune was a little more like Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."
Kuechly, speaking to reporters for the first time in a football setting since his shoulder surgery this spring, let a little angst trickle through his sunny disposition. A little heartache, perhaps?
He just really misses playing football. For a four-time All-Pro, that's understandable.
"I just want to be out there, man," he said. "I'm not able to do the team-related stuff right now, which is a bummer. That's the best part of the (organized team activity) and minicamp portion."
Kuechly is far enough along in his rehabilitation after having his shoulder repaired in February to go through installations and individual drills, but the coaching staff can't risk accidental contact just yet.
Still, Kuechly has plenty to offer his teammates, including backup David Mayo, who has taken first-team snaps in team drills and Tuesday had a diving interception of quarterback Cam Newton.
Plays like that might make Kuechly even itchier to get back to work. But he has a few weeks before he expects to be cleared, so all he can do is offer advice, tackle air and hit dummies in drills.
"It's still good to be out here, around, talking to the guys," he said. "The early-on individual stuff is what I'm able to do right now, and then hopefully once training camp comes I'll be a full go."
