Could Toe be Stewart’s Downfall?

In a quick blurb that warrants mentioning & following (especially for all those who are convinced they’ve found this year’s Adrian Peterson), Panthers’ rookie RB Jonathan Stewart is still being hampered by a toe he injured last November at Oregon, and had surgically repaired this offseason.

He is considered a game-day decision for their preseason opener this Saturday.

“We’re just being precautionary. He’s progressing just fine,” coach John Fox said. “He’s getting plenty of reps and is at all the meetings. Mentally, he’s just fine.”

But a toe is kind of important for a running back, and I wonder just how much this could continue to cause problems, given that he is practicing and working out on it.  Add comments like this from Stewart, and I start to worry a bit:

“There’s certain things, like the whole explosiveness as a runner, are kind of limited because of the toe.”

Just something to keep in mind as fantasy football draft day(s) approach for many of us.