Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart left the Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an apparent knee injury.
Jonathan Stewart injury: Panthers RB leaves with knee injury
Carolina is down to an undrafted free agent after a series of injuries.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Stewart was leading Carolina to its best drive of the second half when he gained a first down and was swarmed by several Steelers. The veteran running back was slow to get up and left the field gingerly before being taken to the locker room. He returned late in the third quarter, but it’s unclear if he will return to the game.
The injury leaves the Panthers in a precarious position at running back. Starter DeAngelo Williams was inactive due to injury, forcing undrafted free agent Darren Reaves into a starting role. Carolina will also lean heavily on fullback Mike Tolbert, but he's not without his own injury concerns after sustaining a bruised sternum against the Detroit Lions in Week 2.
Stewart represented the team’s hopes at running back this season after a spate of injuries limited his availability in each of the last two seasons. He underwent surgery on both ankles in 2013, but the team believed in him enough to keep him on the roster and see if he could return to form this season.
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