The Carolina Panthers are getting back one piece to their offense, but might be losing another. Cam Newton has been at full force at practice all week after missing Week 1 due to a rib injury, but running back DeAngelo Williams has been the opposite. The veteran running back has sat out of practice due to a thigh injury and is very questionable for Week 2 meaning both Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert will be the starting tandem.
Head coach Ron Rivera informed the media of the latest injury report for the Panthers, he admitted concern for Williams heading into Week 2. The team is preparing to face a tough run defense in the Detroit Lions in Week 2 meaning the ground game has to step up to balance the offense. Having Williams out be an issue. He had 72 yards last week after leading the team in rushing last season with 843 yards total.
"I'm concerned,'' Rivera said, via ESPN.com. "He's a running back and he's got to rely on that burst. Based on what he ran today, I've got to see where he is tomorrow. If he's the slightest big hampered by it, [he'll sit]. It's the burst you always worry about."
The nine-year veteran is the starting back and stabilizer of the offense. In his place, Stewart and Tolbert will have to step up and fill the void. Last week, Stewart only put up 20 yards while Tolbert had 11 total. Both of the younger backs were relatively unimpressive, but will be relied upon heavily in Week 2 for Newton. Rivera noted that Stewart would be the starter if Williams was ruled officially out. He has 4,036 career yards with the Panthers.
Having Newton back could mean less rushing yards for the backs in general. Derek Anderson is a more traditional quarterback, so he pushed the ground game in Week 1. However, Newton is a read-option quarterback and does not hand off the ball as Anderson would if he were the permanent starter. The return of the quarterback does help wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Newton and Benjamin spent most of the offseason working on chemistry understanding that the rookie would play a big role in the season. In Week 1 he led the team with 92 yards off six catches.