SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The banged-up Carolina Panthers will be without star linebacker Luke Kuechly and two other key defenders Sunday while their playoff hopes hang by a thread.The 2015 All-Pro Kuechly and safety Kurt Coleman have been ruled out at Seattle (7-3-1 ) with concussions. Defensive end Mario Addison, the teams leader with 6 1-2 sacks, will miss his second straight game with a foot injury. Ron Riveras team desperately needs a win to hang in a crowded race for a playoff spot in the NFC.Kuechly traveled with the team to the Bay Area for practice at San Jose State; the team stayed on the West Coast to cut down on travel time. The Panthers lost to the Raiders last week 35-32, after surrendering an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter.I thought he did a really nice job, Rivera said of Kuechly, who spent the week in the concussion protocol. (He) just talked to the guys, was in communication with them. Well see how it goes.Kuechly will miss his second straight start after suffering a scary head injury in a victory over the Saints on Nov. 17. Fourth-year linebacker A.J. Klein will likely make his second straight start in place of the perennial Pro Bowler.Rivera said Klein, practiced really well during the week. Shaq Thompson, a first-round pick in 2015, could also rotate in. Michael Griffin and Tre Boston are expected to start at safety with Coleman out.Klein, a fifth-round pick in 2013, replaced Kuechly in three games early in 2015 after sustaining a concussion in the season opener. Klein had a forced fumble and five tackles against the Raiders, but was in coverage on a 47-yard completion to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, which set up the winning field goal in the fourth quarter.Perception is unfair because of what happened. The perception is he got beat. said Rivera. Theres more to the game and thats what I think people need to understand.Carolina is three games behind the NFC South-leading Atlanta (7-4) and behind the Washington Redskins (6-4-1) for the final wild-card spot. Five teams enter the weekend within a game of the final seed with five weeks left.The Panthers (4-7) have been decimated by injuries along the offensive line, and lately on defense, after remaining mostly injury free during their run to Super Bowl 50 last season. But Rivera likes his teams mindset despite 2016 not going to plan.I think its very good, I really do, Rivera said. They seem to be relaxed, loose and have good energy, which I think is important. So well see.The Panthers play the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field this week after getting two wins against them in the 2015 season, including the divisional round of the playoffs 31-24.Carolina will also be without right tackle Daryl Williams after suffering a left ankle injury in the second quarter against the Raiders. Right guard Trai Turner replaced Williams at tackle in the second half after not playing the position since high school.Additionally, the Panthers this week placed their top two centers Ryan Kalil (shoulder) and his backup Gino Gradkowski (knee) on injured reserve. Tyler Larsen is expected to make his first career start at center after playing his first offensive snaps last week against the Raiders. The only member of the offensive line playing in the same position he started the season is left guard Andrew Norwell.I thought theyve done well, Rivera said of the offensive line. I thought Trai Turners handled it very nicely. Its a real plus to have a guy like that.The Seahawks vaunted defense ranks first in scoring and seventh overall. Safety Earl Thomas (hamstring) and lineman Michael Bennett (knee) are listed as probable. Thomas missed his first career start last week when Seattle lost in Tampa Bay, 14-5. Bennett missed the last five games after having surgery on his knee.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Custom Football Jerseys . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Discount Custom Football Jerseys . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.footballcustomjerseys.com/ . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Custom Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Custom Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber lost for the first time since July 3 after Marwin Gonzalez connected for a three-run homer off Clevelands ace in the second inning, leading the Houston Astros over the Indians 4-3 on Tuesday night.Kluber (15-9) had won his previous seven decisions, a span during which he dominated the way he did while winning the Cy Young Award in 2014. But the right-hander had a bad sequence of six batters against the Astros, who have won the first two of four games between the playoff contenders.Gonzalez added two doubles for Houston, a major league-best 13-4 since Aug. 19.Reliever James Hoyt (1-0) struck out two in 1 1/3 innings for his first major league win. The 29-year-old rookie replaced Brad Peacock, who was called up to replace an injured Dallas Keuchel and made his first start since April 14, 2015.Carlos Santana homered in the eighth off Luke Gregerson to pull Cleveland within 4-2. The Indians scored an unearned run in the ninth and got the tying run to second before Ken Giles, Houstons fifth reliever, recorded his ninth save.The Indians, who have led the AL Central for 95 consecutive days, lost for just the second time in eight games.Kluber has been a big reason why the Indians have stayed on top of their division. The unflappable 30-year-old had not lost in over two months, and whenever his team needed a big outing, Kluber delivered. He was 7-0 with a 1.94 ERA in 11 starts since losing to Toronto in July.An uncharacteristic run hurt Kluber in the second.After getting two outs, he walked Evan Gattis and Colby Rasmus before quickly getting ahead 0-2 on Gonzalez. Kluber tried to sneak a curveball past Houstons first baseman, but he left it over the plate and Gonzalez drove it into the seatss in right for his 12th homer to put the Astros up 3-0.dddddddddddd.The Indians, who couldnt score on Peacock in the first despite opening with a single and double, got a run back in the second on Tyler Naquins RBI groundout.Houston went ahead 4-1 in the third on Alex Bregmans RBI triple single off Kluber, who settled in and retired 15 of 17 before leaving after seven. He finished with nine strikeouts.Cleveland missed its chance to do early damage on Peacock, who worked out of the initial jam and gave the Astros all they could ask for in 3 2/3 innings.An injury to Keuchel prevented the game from being a matchup of former Cy Young winners. The left-hander was sent back to Houston with shoulder inflammation, a significant setback to the clubs wild-card chances.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: Manager A.J. Hinch said there was nothing new to report on Keuchel, who is expected to speak with the media Friday when the Astros begin a three-game series with the Cubs.Indians: C Yan Gomes (separated shoulder) is scheduled to be catching minor league games on his rehab assignment this weekend. Gomes, who has been on the disabled list since July 18, threw to bases Tuesday and will DH on Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus. He is eligible to be activated on Sept 16.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Doug Fister looks to bounce back after being tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against Texas on Sept. 2.Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco, who struck out 11 and pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings in his last outing, starts for the fifth time in his career against Houston. Carrasco is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA against the Astros. ' ' '