Jonathan Stewart Injury: Updates on Panthers RB's Hamstring and Return

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart hasn't played since he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers. However, he is ready to return.

Continue for updates.

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Stewart Active vs. Saints

Sunday, Oct. 16

The Panthers announced Stewart is available to play in Week 6 against New Orleans.

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Stewart Comments on Playing Status 

Thursday, Oct. 13 

Stewart said he expects to play on Sunday, adding, per Max Henson of the team's official site: "Just knowing how good we are, it's been frustrating to see the losses."

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Latest on Stewart's Practice Status

Thursday, Oct. 13

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reported Stewart took part in Thursday's practice. 

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Latest on Stewart's Rehab

Thursday, Oct. 6

Head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Stewart has been using an underwater treadmill and pulling a sled as part of his recovery. Rivera also noted, "We're heading in the right direction."

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Stewart Once Again Dealing with an Injury

The hamstring problem is a difficult setback for Stewart because he hasn't played a full 16-game schedule since 2011. He appeared in 13 games in each of the last two years but played only six games in 2013 and nine games in 2012.

Stewart was a 2015 Pro Bowler after he tallied 989 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns. The Panthers made the Super Bowl on the back of the league’s second-leading rushing attack, with Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton running a variety of read-option looks and packages.

Even with durability concerns, Stewart has been fairly consistent since he entered the league out of the University of Oregon in 2008. He has six different seasons of more than 750 rushing yards on his resume as a physical runner with enough speed to attack gaps when they present themselves.

With Stewart on the sideline, the Panthers turned to Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker to fill the running back void.

Artis-Payne finished his rookie season, 2015, with 183 rushing yards and has managed only 144 yards on 36 attempts so far this season.