According to Bryan Strickland, both Jonathan Stewart and Dean Marlowe are expected to suit up when the Panthers welcome the 49ers to Bank of America Stadium this Sunday.

While Stewart is expected to play, it’s possible we will see second-year running back Cameron Artis-Payne on the active roster as a backup option, but that depends on the severity of Stewart’s condition. Rivera said as much to the media this week:

Running back Cameron Artis-Payne was among the healthy scratches last week. Rivera said earlier in the week that could be the case again, but his confidence level in Stewart's health could play a role. -Bryan Strickland, Panthers.com

Hopefully the team is just being cautious with Stewart, as a significant injury to him could derail the team’s hopes of winning a title this season. The Panthers have decent depth at running back, but as we’ve seen in the recent past they’re a completely different team offensively when J-Stew isn’t in the lineup.

Fortunately for the Panthers they’ve had 10 days of rest and only have two names on the official injury report heading into the home opener:

Panthers Injury Report

Player - S Dean Marlowe

Injury - Hamstring

Wed - LP | Thu - LP | Fri - FP

Game Status - Questionable

Player - RB Jonathan Stewart

Injury - Ankle

Wed - LP | Thu - LP | Fri - FP

Game Status - Questionable

Practice Status

DNP = Did not participate in practice

LP = Limited Participation in Practice - Less than 100% of a player's normal repetitions

FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions

Out = Player will not play

(-) = Not Listed = No practice status available

Game Status

Out = Player will not play

Doubtful = Player unlikely to play

Questionable = Uncertain if player will play

(-) = Not Listed - No game status available