Panthers waive JT Ibe after his hard hit sends WR Keith Kirkwood to hospital

The Carolina Panthers wasted no time waiving JT Ibe on Tuesday, just a few hours after he hit wide receiver Keith Kirkwood so hard during practice that Kirkwood had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Ibe, an undrafted defensive back who signed with the Panthers in April, leveled Kirkwood with a hit to the head after he caught a pass. Ibe was immediately kicked out of practice, and head coach Matt Rhule called the hit "unacceptable," according to the Charlotte Observer.

After he went down, players and coaches gathered around Kirkwood, who was on the ground for more than 10 minutes. Team medical staff then put him on a backboard and carted him off to an ambulance.

Rhule said Kirkwood was able to move his arms and legs, and had no pain in his neck. However, there's no official diagnosis yet.

Kirkwood was forced to miss most of last season due to two collarbone breaks. He appeared in one game and made one catch for 13 yards.

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