Jonathan

Stewart

Stewart signed a one-day contract to retire with the Panthers, the team which made him the 13th overall pick back in 2008 and was his home for 10 of 11 seasons. Early in his career, Stewart formed a dynamic partnership with DeAngelo Williams, and the pair helped carry the team to a 12-4 record in 2008. Stewart struggled with injuries throughout most of his career, but he was able to appear in at least 13 games each of his final four seasons in Carolina, averaging almost 925 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns over that span. Stewart finishes his career with the most rushing yards in Panthers history.

The writing has been on the wall for the Giants to part ways with Stewart following his disastrous career-low campaign. Stewart essentially robbed the team of $2.95 million guaranteed for a laughable six carries and 17 yards (2.83 YPC). Rather than paying $2.77 million to keep dead weight on the roster for another season, New York will actually gain $250,000 in cap credit for 2019. Turning 32 in March, it wouldn’t be shocking if Stewart’s career comes to a close this offseason.

Stewart’s option needs to be exercised or declined by February 4, so this move should happen in the near future. Stewart was a colossal bust of a signing by GM Dave Gettleman, paying Stewart $2.95 million guaranteed for 17 yards on six carries in 2018. Gettleman tried to back up the signing by saying Stewart was worth that due to his locker room presence. Stewart is 32 in March.

31-year-old J-Stew — who was not good for the Panthers in either 2016 or ’17 — took him $2.95 million guaranteed to touch the ball six times this season. His signing was a folly from the second the ink dried and proceeded to only get worse. Due $2.35 million in 2019, Stewart will undoubtedly be cut loose. Stewart has been a useful NFL back for a long time, but he is near the end of the line.

Stewart is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, though the Giants haven’t indicated whether he’ll play Sunday against Tampa Bay. Even if J-Stew is activated, he’ll just be fighting for scraps behind rookie workhorse Saquon Barkley.

The coach says Stewart will be sidelined eight weeks by a foot injury, a timetable which conveniently fits with the time he must miss after being placed on injured reserve last week. Even if Stewart is healthy enough to return later in the season, there would be little reason to bring him back unless something happened to Saquon Barkley or Wayne Gallman.

Stewart’s Giants tenure has been an utter mess, resulting in just six carries for 17 yards (2.83 YPC). Wayne Gallman has seamlessly transitioned in as the Giants’ backup and should stay there for the remainder of the year even if Stewart returns.

Stewart is nowhere near fantasy radars. Wayne Gallman is the Giants’ No. 2 back.

Stewart has just six carries this year. He’s buried behind Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman as the No. 3 back.

Stewart also had a 60-yard catch-and-run called back after the replay booth ruled he had an elbow down. Still, he continues to dominate DeAngelo Williams on the statsheet and in the eye test. Stewart sheds tackles at will, is vastly improved as a receiver and is more explosive than Williams. If the Panthers ever turn the backfield over to Stewart completely, he’ll be special. But for now, his upside is capped.