After Jonathan Stewartsprained his knee in the Carolina Panthers' Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach Ron Rivera developed a plan to ride the hot hand in a committee attack.
All too predictably, the variety pack of running backs combined to average a paltry 2.65 yards per carry in Stewart's absence the past three weeks.
Now that Stewart is practicing fully again, he said he will start at Green Bay on Sunday, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Rivera wasn't quite as definitive.
"Jonathan looked good. He had a good day," Rivera said. "We'll see how he is (Thursday), but he took the majority of the reps. He took all the reps that were slated for him as well.
"I'm excited to see him on the football field and hopefully there's no residual, and he'll be ready to roll again at practice."
Although Stewart averaged just 3.0 yards per carry prior to the injury, he was among the league leaders in forced missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus' metrics.
Barring a late-week setback, he will resume lead-back duties against an improving Packers run defense.
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