Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart returned to practice on Thursday, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Stewart has been dealing with a knee injury that has cost him the last two games and a ton of practice. Starter DeAngelo Williams has also missed time with an injury and did not practice.
While Williams certainly won't play in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Stewart returning to practice on Thursday is a good indication that he could suit up. The Panthers have been a mess at the running back position with the injuries to the starters. Mike Tolbert was also hurt, and the reserves have been banged up as well. Carolina ranks 30th in the NFL with 74.8 rushing yards per game.
Fantasy Impact: Fantasy owners can forget about Williams at this point. Actually, it's hard to suggest they keep anybody when it comes to the Panthers' running game. The good news is that Stewart seems likely to play against the Bengals. The bad news is that Cincinnati has a good defense and Stewart is likely to give up quite a few carries to Darrin Reaves, who has been starting in his place. There are better running back situations for fantasy owners to choose from, to say the least.