Carolina Panthers star middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is on the mend after he underwent surgery on his right shoulder, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.

It’s the second time in the span of a few years that Kuechly has had to go under the knife to fix an injury to his shoulder. He previously had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder two years ago.

Kuechly backed out of playing in the Pro Bowl last month due to an unspecified injury. He was replaced on the NFC team by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones.

Kuechly played in 15 of 16 regular season games in 2017, the most he’s played since 2014. He recorded 125 combined tackles, with 1.5 sacks and three interceptions.

The first instance of Kuechly's shoulder injury popping up on the Panthers’ injury report was prior to the team’s game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. However, he still played every defensive snap in that game and the rest of the season including the playoffs.

It wasn’t specified how long Kuechly figures to be ready to return to football-related activities, but the Panthers will likely exercise caution with their superstar linebacker.

If Kuechly does make it back in time for offseason OTAs, he and the rest of his teammates will get their first experience of the defense under new defensive coordinator Eric Washington. Washington, who had been the team’s defensive line coach since 2011, was promoted to DC after Steve Wilks’ departure to take the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job.