The Seattle Seahawks have lacked a threatening running game beyond Russell Wilson over the last two seasons, so they’re exploring if Jonathan Stewart is the answer.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports the free-agent veteran is slated to visit the Seahawks on Thursday.
Stewart had spent all 10 seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers — who selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft — until the team released him. Carolina wanted to move forward with Christian McCaffrey as the featured back.
At nearly 31 years old, Stewart has reached the age where running backs typically decline. And since averaging 4.6 yards per carry in 2014, his efficiency has steadily dropped each season down to 3.4 last year.
While some will be quick to point out the Panthers’ blocking struggles as a defense of Stewart’s numbers, he certainly wouldn’t enter an ideal situation in Seattle. In 2017, Mike Davis led all Seahawks running backs with only 240 yards.
Nevertheless, Stewart could provide a veteran presence that Seattle may consider valuable in this offseason of transition.