Panthers' Jonathan Stewart: Signs extension through 2018

The Panthers signed Stewart to a one-year extension through 2018, the team's official website reports.

Analysis:

Previously entering the final season of a five-year, $36.5 million contract he signed in 2012, the 30-year-old running back was scheduled for a 2017 cap hit of $8.25 million. The extension likely redistributes some of that charge to 2018, ending any speculation about the possibility Stewart could be released. He had 218 carries for 824 yards (3.8 YPC) and nine touchdowns in 13 games last season, missing at least three contests for a fifth consecutive year. The Panthers could still select a running back early in the upcoming draft, as Stewart's age and injury history are cause for concern, while backfield mates Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker both profile as complementary pieces.