Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera announced Monday that starting running back Jonathan Stewart is expected to miss “a week or two” with a hamstring injury, according to Panthers beat writer Max Henson. Stewart headed to the locker room after the Panthers’ third drive in the first quarter of the team’s Week 2 win over the San Francisco 49ers, and was ruled out for the second half of the game. The ninth-year RB underwent a MRI Monday morning, but results are unknown at this time. Stewart was also battling an ankle injury coming into the Week 2 meeting with the 49ers, but was still able to start.
Jonathan Stewart out, no need for owners to panic
The Carolina Panthers starting running back awaits MRI results from a hamstring injury. We break down fantasy implications.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Fantasy Impact: Stewart leaves a big hole in the Carolina backfield and fantasy owners’ lineups. The silver lining from out of this so far is the fact that the Pro Bowler is only expected to miss up to two weeks. Hopefully that will be enough time for Stewart to get healthy and be ready to face division rival Tampa Bay in Week 5.
In the meantime, the Panthers rely on Fozzy Whittaker to take on a lot of the load in the backfield. Whittaker rushed for 100 yards in Stewart’s absence Sunday. They will also look to Cameron Artis-Payne as he returns from being inactive in the first two weeks of the season.
