CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart will miss at least the first six weeks of the season while he recovers from an ankle injury. Coach Ron Rivera said after practice Tuesday that Stewart was placed on the physically unable to perform list. The team also put guard Edmund Kugbila, its fourth-round draft pick, on injured reserve with a knee injury and waived injured defensive tackle Frank Kearse and wide receiver Joe Adams, Carolinas fourth-round pick in 2012. Adams and Kearse will go back on injured reserve if they clear waivers. NFL rules stipulate Stewart cant practice or play for six weeks. Since the Panthers have a bye in week four, Stewart is eligible to play Oct. 20 against the St. Louis Rams, which would be Week 7 on the NFL calendar but would be Carolinas sixth game of the season. "Im just taking it day by day and trying to be there for my teammates and bring as much positive energy as I can," Stewart said. "We have a long season ahead of us and I plan to be back in week six." Rivera is "very optimistic" Stewart could make it back for St. Louis game. "Some real good things have happened but they arent going to happen soon enough," Rivera said, adding doctors now believe the right ankle will take longer to heal. Rivera classified the injury as a sprain. Stewart hasnt practiced since off-season surgery on both ankles. The decision likely means more playing time for DeAngelo Williams, the franchises all-time leading rusher, and opens a roster spot for young running backs in Tauren Poole and Armond Smith. Carolina also drafted Kenjon Barner from Oregon in the sixth round and hes expected to contribute as a scat back. Stewart is coming off a disappointing season a year ago, rushing for 336 yards and one touchdown, both career lows. He missed seven games in all, including the final five with a sprained ankle. "I can spend all of my energy being disappointed or I can spend all of my energy getting ready for week six," Stewart said. Stewart said the decision came after he met Tuesday with Dr. James Anderson, the teams physician. Now the Panthers are awaiting word on fullback Mike Tolbert, who has yet to play in the preseason because of a hamstring injury. His status for the season opener against Seattle remains in question. Rivera said despite the injuries to Stewart and Tolbert the team has no plans to bring in any running backs. "We feel good about young guys that we have," Rivera said. "Theyll see a dose of action in this last preseason game and well see what theyre capable of." The Panthers drafted Kugbila with the 108th overall pick, but hes rarely practiced because of knee and hamstring issues. But Rivera isnt writing him off as a draft-day bust. "We really have to look at the long term in terms of getting him ready to go in the future," Rivera said. Air Max Plus Wholesale . Rob Klinkhammer and Mikkel Boedker scored 63 seconds apart in the first period for the Coyotes, who handed the Kings their third straight loss and took over sole possession of eighth place in the Western Conference. Mike Smith made 36 saves. Cheap Air Max Plus . The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012. http://www.airmaxplusaustraliacheap.com/. -- Chad Labelle scored the winner 17:36 into the third period to give Medicine Hat a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday and lift the Tigers into the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. Wholesale Air Max Plus Australia .That means, of course, that John Wall beat the Spurs for the first time ever — within weeks of his first wins in head-to-head games against nemeses Chris Paul and Derrick Rose. Cheap Air Max Plus Australia . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win.Manaus, Brazil - Cameroon midfielder Alex Song has been hit with a three-match suspension following his red card against Croatia last Wednesday. Song was sent off in the 40th minute after he elbowed Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic in the back away from the ball, which was spotted by the referee. Cameroon went on to lose the contest 4-0, eliminating the team from the competition iin the group stage for the fifth successive World Cup.dddddddddddd The 26-year-old received an automatic one-game suspension for being sent off, which rules him out of Cameroons final match against Brazil on Monday. But he will now serve a further two-game ban, making him unavailable for his teams next two international matches after FIFA decided to extend the ban. ' ' '