Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart, LB Thomas Davis return to practice
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart and linebacker Thomas Davis returned to practice on Wednesday, the team announced.
Stewart left the Panthers' Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee injury and did not play last week against the Baltimore Ravens. He has 29 carries for 88 yards with one touchdown this season. Ankle injuries and a torn MCL limited him to a combined 15 games the last two seasons.
Carolina has had several injuries to its running backs this season. Starter DeAngelo Williams is week-to-week with a sprained ankle, and he missed two games earlier this season with a thigh injury. Fullback Mike Tolbert was placed on injured reserve/designated to return last week with a fractured knee. Tolbert is eligible to return in Week 13. Backup running back Fozzy Whittaker did not practice Wednesday because of a quad injury. The Panthers signed Chris Ogbonnaya on Monday for added depth.
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The Panthers rank 29th in the league with 284 rushing yards and only have one touchdown on the ground. Carolina is 25th in total offense and is averaging 18.2 points per game.
Davis returned to practice from a hamstring injury which held him out of Sunday's loss to the Ravens. He left the Panthers' Week 3 game in the fourth quarter with the injury. In three games this season, he has 19 combined tackles. He was the team's second-leading tackler last season behind Luke Kuechly. The 31-year old is in his ninth season with the Panthers after being a first-round pick in the 2005 draft out of Georgia.
Carolina's defense is allowing 373.8 yards per game, which is 23rd in the league
The Panthers are 2-2 on the season and host the Chicago Bears on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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- Paul Palladino
