Mike Tolbert

According to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, the Panthers are awaiting the results of an MRI on running back Jonathan Stewart’s hamstring strain, but coach Ron Rivera said: “It’s going to be at least a week.”

Related players: Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker, Mike Tolbert

Backup Fozzy Whittaker ran 16 times for 100 yards against the 49ers yesterday, but Rivera said they prefer to use him as a change-of-pace back, along with fullback Mike Tolbert. So with Stewart out this week against the Vikings, they could be starting Cameron Artis-Payne, who hasn’t played in either of this year’s games. With Stewart sidelined for a three-game stretch late in the season, Artis-Payne turned 38 total touches into 210 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 4.60 YPC during that span.