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August 06, 2008
Stewart's toe still touchy
Jonathan Stewart's toe still has not fully recovered from offseason surgery, but he continues to practice on a limited basis.
Stewart said he still has some discomfort in his right big toe, which underwent an operation to repair a turf toe injured he suffered last November playing for Oregon.
Stewart worked in practice Wednesday morning returning kickoffs, but saw very little action at the running back position.
Stewart may not play in Saturday's exhibition opener against Indianapolis. Coach John Fox said it would be a game-day decision.
Also likely out: Middle linebacker Jon Beason. He has an ankle injury. Beason said he'd likely be able to play if it was a regular-season game, but that the team wants to be cautious with the injury since it's the preseason.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on August 6, 2008 at 12:25 PM | Permalink
Comments
Congrads Panther fans;
This is Oregon's Jonathan Stewart...
I just hope for you that September comes and J-Stew is back to his freshman form. He is a workhorse and will give you his all.
BUUUT, the question remains if he can mentally overcome these injury bugs that limited him from reaching fifth gear for the Ducks. But gears one through four were fun to watch.
Posted by: Bryan | Aug 6, 2008 12:39:12 PM
Hate to say I told you so, but while Stewart's a great player when healthy, I'm afraid we're going to keep hearing this same old song and dance for a few years. Hope he proves me wrong, though.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 6, 2008 1:56:52 PM
He's still healing from surgery. Give the kid a break.
Posted by: Dino | Aug 6, 2008 2:09:09 PM
Which would be fine, but he was always healing from one injury or another THROUGHOUT his college career. That can't NOT be a concern, particularly at the RB position in a smashmouth, power-running offense.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 6, 2008 2:14:41 PM
this reeks of Biakabatuka
Posted by: matt | Aug 6, 2008 2:23:38 PM
MP,
Why don't you get a life or something? All you do is post all day and be negative. If the panthers were practicing Stewart all day everyday you would complain about that. The one thing you don't talk about with these nagging injuries is that he didn't miss any major time last year with them and was still very productive!!!!! He will be just fine come the regular season.
Posted by: Trupanthersfan | Aug 6, 2008 2:23:57 PM
My ex-Boyfriend loved to watch Stewart run. Man I do miss him.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 6, 2008 2:51:29 PM
Sure...he didn't miss any time. He played hurt, which, while a valuable ability, takes away from future durability. He broke his ankle in high school, which led to chronic ankle issues at Oregon (missed two games his freshman year with it as well as parts of at least three in his sophomore year.) Think that won't crop up at any point in the NFL? He's also dealt with rib, neck, hand, and knee issues. The word you always hear about with running backs is "mileage." Stewart's already got the dings of a back with much more mileage, and the Pac-10 is hardly one of the more physical conferences around. Do you think he'll suddenly take tougher hits from bigger guys better? I want him to do well and I think he's our best back, but that won't matter if he can't stay on the field.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 6, 2008 2:57:39 PM
MP, I'm so sure you "really hated to say I told you so." I was/am a Foster fan and was one of those that got caught up in the Foster-Williams debate. Frankly, I regret doing so and was only bashing the kid to try to defend Foster.
That being said, now that the kid has gotten comfortable with this system, I have to agree with his supporters in saying that he will tear things up (especially with that O-line in front of him like one of the Charlotte reporters observed).
I can actually see DW being the starter and letting the duck situationally pound things out (with an additional passing attack surprise here and there). As the season progresses (and hopefully as he gets better and healthier) I do see the Panther brass turning to there origianal approach to smash-mouth ground attacks. That will really open things up for them come playoff time.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Aug 6, 2008 2:59:22 PM
*their:)
Posted by: SYRPIS | Aug 6, 2008 3:01:30 PM
BTW, bashing Williams to defend Foster makes no sense. I still stay that Williams only got better as the season progressed (just like anyone else). I also say that Foster did not get his fair shake from you haters. That's a real shame. The guy was spectacular when he was on. Sure, he was no... this guy or that guy.... but he still was a good back and deserves our respect.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Aug 6, 2008 3:06:03 PM
Damn, I forgot about the kids endless defense of Foster and even Carr. But back to Foster, he is so good that when he got his chance to hit the open market and receive fair value for his services, he was signed as a backup....in San Fransisco!!!
Posted by: matt | Aug 6, 2008 3:06:49 PM
Syrpis,
I was also a fan of DeShaun Foster, less so now that he is a 49er and I have such a profound dislike of all teams San Franciscan. I agree that he didn't get a "fair shake" from many, especially last season when the much-hyped zone-blocking scheme fizzled completely and the poor QB play most of the year made running a life-threatening proposition. He was a quality backup to Stephen Davis in 2003, his first season of play. But he is not an up-the-middle runner the Panthers tried to make him into, with that zone-blocking scheme not leading the way.
Williams might be the better starter this year IF he improves his pass blocking, one area he was criticized for. If he manages that, it might work out well to have Stewart as the #2 back and short-yardage pounder that was lacking in recent years.
As for Matt's point of Foster signing on as a backup in SF, there is no shame in backing up Frank Gore, the NFC rushing leader in 2006. He may have preferred returning to CA over playing elsewhere. At least he didn't sign with the Raiders, the only team I dislike more than the 49ers.
Does anyone else dislike the look of the "new and improved" Observer website as much as I do? The way everything appears hard to the left side of my monitor makes it look like something is missing. Who designed this thing anyway?
Posted by: FrankieB2 | Aug 6, 2008 5:42:59 PM
i think he will be fine come game time
Posted by: jake the snake | Aug 6, 2008 7:48:04 PM
Syrpis,
I was also a fan of DeShaun Foster, less so now that he is a 49er and I have such a profound dislike of all teams San Franciscan. I agree that he didn't get a "fair shake" from many, especially last season when the much-hyped zone-blocking scheme fizzled completely and the poor QB play most of the year made running a life-threatening proposition. He was a quality backup to Stephen Davis in 2003, his first season of play. But he is not an up-the-middle runner the Panthers tried to make him into, with that zone-blocking scheme not leading the way.
Williams might be the better starter this year IF he improves his pass blocking, one area he was criticized for. If he manages that, it might work out well to have Stewart as the #2 back and short-yardage pounder that was lacking in recent years.
As for Matt's point of Foster signing on as a backup in SF, there is no shame in backing up Frank Gore, the NFC rushing leader in 2006. He may have preferred returning to CA over playing elsewhere. At least he didn't sign with the Raiders, the only team I dislike more than the 49ers.
Does anyone else dislike the look of the "new and improved" Observer website as much as I do? The way everything appears hard to the left side of my monitor makes it look like something is missing. Who designed this thing anyway?
Posted by: FrankieB2 | Aug 6, 2008 9:25:26 PM
I think DeAngelo Williams is ready to go off in his 3rd season, knowing that he is being counted upon as the main man at RB for the Panthers. As for Stewart, he will be a stud, tough as nails. The team had him checked out thoroughly before spending their 1st pick on him and the Dr. treating him all along was a top Dr from the Charlotte area. A foot specialist. This Dr. hopefully was not the same one who treated the WR Jeffries a few years ago. Just kidding. Man that was a shame to lose a great player to injury. IF Jake stays healthy and the line can remain intact without position change all year, and if J Pep goes off like I think he will, the Panthers should contend for the NFC South. Jonathan Stewart will be a stud for many years.
Posted by: David | Aug 7, 2008 1:34:45 AM
I think it's no secret that the Panthers rolled the dice on a lot of players this year. Jake's elbow. Stewart's toe. Otah's ankle. Hackett's injury-prone-ness. Fonoti's weight. Inserting 3 rookies into the starting lineup. Switching Peppers to the right side. Moving Gross to the left side. Moving Thomas Davis to a new LB spot. O-line change-ups across the board...
The theme for this year is risk/reward. If the majority of those gambles pay off, the team is poised for really great things. If they don't, Fox and Hurney will be poised to take a lot of heat again. That may be one of the other reasons they're being as cautious in holding out injured players like Stewart and Beason. I don't blame them one bit. And I hope all these guys bounce back. It's a new season. Optimism rules the day...
--Neil
Posted by: NSpicer | Aug 7, 2008 8:08:59 AM
Hey procton, he didn't break his ankle in HS. It was a small bone near the toe and that was his soph year and has never bothered him again. As for the ankle I was at that game also against Montana his Freshman year and that was just a sprain. I'm hearing Coach Fox say he's fine, but your ready to call it a day. BTW the Pac 10 does plenty of hitting don't kid yourself.
Posted by: bbobtee | Aug 8, 2008 9:17:09 AM
Hmm...that's certainly intriguing...perhaps your Oregon homerism is shining through?
"Injury Report
2002: Suffered a left ankle fracture as a sophomore in high school."
--( http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/jonathan-stewart?id=949#player-profile-tab-set-1:player-profile-tab-analysis )
And if that ankle injury was "just a sprain," and, I'll assume, not a big deal, why is it that he missed the next two games AFTER that Montana game, including a home game against #1 USC with both teams undefeated?
And maybe it's a coincidence, but why is it that he missed at least part of three different games just LAST YEAR with a left ankle injury?
If it's not a chronic issue, how come it's his left ankle that keeps getting dinged up over and over?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 8, 2008 9:52:19 AM
procton, get off the internet and start loading those boxes on the truck.
shift supv.
Posted by: rip | Aug 9, 2008 11:37:55 AM
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