NFL NEWS

Panthers release RB Stewart after 10 seasons

The Sports Xchange

February 28, 2018 at 12:05 pm.

Dec 17, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) looks to cut away from Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 17, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) looks to cut away from Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers released the franchise’s all-time rushing leader in Jonathan Stewart, the team announced on Wednesday.

Stewart has spent his entire 10-year NFL career with Carolina since being selected out of Oregon with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 draft. The soon-to-be 31-year-old running back has 7,318 career rushing yards with 51 rushing touchdowns on 1,699 carries with the Panthers.

“Jonathan played the game the way you want,” coach Ron Rivera told the team’s website. “He brought an element of toughness as a runner that set the tempo for our team. He is a great pro and I appreciate who he is as a young man and thank him for the contribution he made.”

Stewart was set to count $5.2 million against the cap as he headed into the final year of his contract. The move, however, will save the Panthers just over $3.7 million under the salary cap.

Stewart rushed for 680 yards and a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry this past season while sharing the backfield with rookie Christian McCaffrey. Fellow running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne are also under contract for the Panthers.

In 2015, Stewart earned a Pro Bowl selection after leading Carolina with 989 rushing yards with six touchdowns on a career-high 242 carries. He helped the team set franchise records with an NFL-leading 500 points scored and 59 TDs while ranking second in the league with 142.6 rushing yards per game.

In 2009, Stewart was part of NFL history when he rushed for 1,133 yards, pairing with running back DeAngelo Williams, who totaled 1,117 yards, to become the first set of teammates in NFL history to each rush for more than 1,100 yards in the same season.

Stewart helped Carolina to five playoff appearances, and holds franchise records for most career rushing yards (474), rushing attempts (101) and rushing touchdowns (five) in the postseason. His three rushing touchdowns in the 2015 postseason are the franchise high.