Panthers' Jonathan Stewart: Effective in limited action

Stewart rushed three times for 23 yards in Friday's preseason game against the Patriots.

Analysis:

Stewart only played during the first quarter, but was effective in his short time on the field. The veteran reeled off a game-long rush of 23 yards, even though he netted no yardage from his other two totes. The Panthers are focused on preserving Stewart for the long haul this season, so it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't play in their preseason finale, but his brief showing Friday should provide confidence ahead of the regular season.