"It's been a weekly routine this season for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart to sit out Wednesday practices.

He's on the injury report each week with a sore Achilles that's been bothering him for close to a year.

When the Panthers picked him 13th overall in the 2008 draft, he was recovering from toe surgery.

It's perceived locally and around the NFL that he's rarely healthy and is injury-prone.

There's a flaw in that concept, however: Of the five running backs selected in the first round of the '08 draft, Stewart is the only one who's never missed a game.

That's right, though he's missed practices aplenty, especially during minicamps, summer school and training camp, Stewart consistently has been available to the Panthers when it matters most.

"The trainers and the staff here have been working with me (on the) preparation of my body for the games," said Stewart. "That's what really counts when it's all said and done."

Stewart is expected to play a leading role today when the Panthers play at the New York Giants. With starting running back DeAngelo Williams hampered by a nagging ankle injury, Stewart is expected to make the second start of his career."