Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has yet to practice with the team during training camp as he remains on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury.
But head coach Ron Rivera said Monday that Stewart is still on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.
“Oh yeah, based on what’s been going on the last couple days,” Rivera said, via the team’s official website. “I feel pretty optimistic.”
Stewart will re-join a crowded backfield alongside DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert when he gets back on the practice field, Stewart is looking to bounce back from the least productive season of his five-year career last year. Stewart played in just nine games and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on 93 attempts with one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
In addition to Stewart, Rivera said Tolbert could return in the “next week or so” from a hamstring injury.