We've heard a number of positive reports about Stewart's rehab during the spring and summer, but it's about time he made it back to the practice field. Draft him as you would. Even though he's not a starter, he's probably the best non-starting back in the NFL and should still be considered a pretty good No. 2 RB in 12-team leagues. While the starting job remains in the hands of Stewart's running mate, DeAngelo Williams, it will be interesting to see if Stewart's monster finish to 2009 -- 589 rushing yards and five total scores in the final five games -- earned him a few more carries in 2010.
After missing all of OTAs and the first two weeks of training camp, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart re-joined his teammates Saturday for his first practice since the 2009 season ended. Stewart underwent surgery in January to remove a bone spur pressing up against his Achilles' tendon and has been rehabbing ever since. "We started him a little slow in some walk-through and individual drills, and we'll build that back up as he's medically capable," head coach John Fox said about Stewart. "(He will go) one-a-day for sure, maybe even two-a-days very little." Stewart admitted that he is not 100 percent. He still feels some pain in the ankle from time to time, but he's expected to make a full recovery before the season begins. Stewart said he would like to take part in one exhibition game just to get back into the flow of playing football.
Running back DeAngelo Williams was excused from practice because of personal matters, which meant running back Tyrell Sutton ran with the first team.
Jonathan Stewart did a little more in practice, but hasn't been cleared to work in team drills. The Panthers want to ease him back into the mix slowly, which is probably a smart move. There's no hurry at this point. He did do a little work in 7-on-7 drills.
Otherwise, the injury list is dwindling a little. Unable to practice were wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Mike Goodson, offensive tackle Jeff Otah, defensive end Tyler Brayton,linebackers Thomas Davis, Jamar Williams and Quinton Culberson, and safety Aaron Francisco. Defensive tackle Louis Leonard left practice early because of heat-related issues.
Linebacker Jordan Senn and wide receiver Trent Guy returned to work Sunday, while cornerback Chris Gamble practiced for the second straight day after returning Saturday night.
At the end of a long and steamy afternoon practice, the Panthers worked "live" goal line drills from the 3-yard line.
The first-team offense dominated, getting into the end zone on the first two plays with running back Josh Vaughan beating linebacker Jon Beason to the outside and quarterback Kenneth Moore fooling the defense on a bootleg, punctuating that score by spiking the ball between his legs. It would have been 3-for-3 had tight end Gary Barnidge not dropped an easy pass in the back of the end zone on the next play…
During one-on-one pass blocking drills offensive guard Duke Robinson got underneath the helmet of defensive tackle Corvey Irvin and popped it right off like a champagne cork. Irvin was a little shaken up, but did return a few minutes later… Running back Dantrell Savage had a big-time run around left end late in practice, drawing hoots from the guys on the offensive side of the field… Tolbert, by the way, was sporting a loud pair of purple and gold Crocs before practice. He played at LSU before getting into coaching.
Rookie Armanti Edwards isn't in that list of potential starters because he still has a long way to go in his transition from college quarterback to NFL receiver.
"It's interesting because everything he's doing he's doing for the first time," Tolbert said. "We did a cut-blocking drill and I was like, 'Wow Armanti, is this you're first time doing this?' And he was like, 'Yeah.' So everything he's doing I have to keep reminding myself this is his first time.
"But he's getting better. It's a process, but he asks smart questions in the meeting. He doesn't ask them just to ask them. He asks legitimate questions for him because he's never done it before. And we're pretty much teaching him what to do and how to do it, and he grasps it pretty good. I'm pleased with his progress up until this point because of the fact he's never played the position on this level.
"I see athleticism, and as a matter of fact, I mentioned to him he played a lot faster yesterday morning. I think he's getting more comfortable and not thinking anymore. He's going out and playing like the guy we drafted."
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