Jonathan Stewart won't play vs. Vikings, could be out longer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is expected to miss this upcoming Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikingsbecause of a hamstring injury. He could possibly be sidelined longer, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said.

Stewart suffered the injury midway through the first quarter of this past Sunday's home opener against San Francisco on a 3-yard loss near midfield and did not return. The 2015 Pro Bowl selection underwent an MRI on Monday.

"If it's a hamstring, which every indication points to, it's going to be at least a week or two," Rivera said Monday before seeing the results of the MRI. "We'll see how severe [the injury is]. He said he felt pretty good walking around when I talked to him [a few minutes ago]. He'd just literally gotten back from the MRI."

With Stewart out Sunday, the Panthers turned to Fozzy Whittaker and Mike Tolbert. Whittaker rushed for a career-high 100 yards on 16 carries.

Second-year running back Cameron Artis-Payne, who has been inactive for the first two games, will play a role until Stewart returns.

"We'll work them both this week," Rivera said of Artis-Payne and Whittaker. "I've got a tremendous amount of faith in who Cap can be for us. And knowing you have a good change-of-pace guy in Fozzy, you've got a guy that can come in and play good situation football for us in Mike Tolbert, I think it's a good combination."