The Facts: Stewart appears safe from being released – at least for now. HC Ron Rivera mentioned Stewart by name last week on ESPN's NFL Insiders when talking about ways to take the running load off quarterback Cam Newton during the 2017 season. "The biggest thing, our realization is that our primary runner cannot be our quarterback," Rivera said. "We've got to get guys like Jonathan Stewart rolling. We've got to put it in our backs' hands and get the ball to our playmakers."

Diehards Line: As ESPN.com's David Newton suggested, it seems unlikely Rivera would have mentioned Stewart by name if there were plans to release him as the Panthers did all-time leading rusher DeAngelo Williams after the 2014 season. ... Stewart will turn 30 in March, and that typically is a time running backs start to see a sharp decline in production. He also is scheduled to count $8,250,000 against the salary cap this season, and by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation the Panthers could clear $6.25 million from the salary cap. Age and money were a part of why the Panthers released Williams. But with a projected $50 million in cap space the Panthers aren’t in a position of needing to clear more space just for the sake of clearing space. And Stewart, plagued by injuries during his career, showed with 132 yards rushing on 25 carries in a December game at Washington he still has plenty to offer. So for now, Stewart appears to be in the equation.