Source: Refreshed Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart: Feels like my fifth year – Carolina Panthers Blog- ESPN:
Coach Ron Rivera wants to keep Stewart fresh during the season by reducing his carries. With the improvement of second-year running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Brandon Wegher, and the growth of Fozzy Whittaker, Rivera believes that is possible.
Stewart was a workhorse last season, rushing a career-high 242 times for 989 yards and six touchdowns in 13 regular-season games. He averaged a career-high 18.6 carries a game, 4.8 carries more than his previous high of 13.8 in 2009.
Rivera has limited Stewart’s carries in training camp because he knows what he can do and understands how valuable the 29-year-old was before a foot injury sidelined him the final three regular-season games.