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Panthers injuries mounting at running back

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The injuries continue to mount in the Carolina Panthers’ backfield.

Coach Ron Rivera said Monday that bruising Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert will miss Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens with a hairline fracture in his left leg and running back Jonathan Stewart will be reevaluated on Friday with a severely sprained right knee.

Rivera said while the injuries are another setback for Carolina’s struggling running game, he added that the MRIs on the players indicated “nothing is catastrophic — and that’s the best part.”

Both injuries were sustained in a lopsided 37-19 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

Rivera also said outside linebacker Thomas Davis would be reevaluated on Friday, but wouldn’t specify the nature of his injury.

Running back was one of the deepest positions on the roster entering the season, but just three weeks in general manager Dave Gettleman could be forced to look outside the organization for help.

The Panthers were already dangerously thin in the backfield coming into the Steelers game with starting running back DeAngelo Williams and third-string back Fozzy Whittaker out with hamstring injuries. Rivera said he hopes to get Williams back to practice on Wednesday.

The only healthy running back on the roster is undrafted rookie Darrin Reaves, who was promoted from the practice squad on Saturday as an emergency option.

Richie Brockel will take over at fullback against the Ravens in Tolbert’s spot.

Carolina’s running game ranks 29th in the league, averaging just 72.3 yards per game on the ground. That’s a huge drop off from 2013 when the NFC South champions averaged 126.6 yards on the ground and ran for at least 100 yards in 15 of 16 games.

With Stewart starting for Williams, the Panthers failed to establish against the Steelers’ 29th-ranked run defense. Stewart was limited to 31 yards on five carries. As a team, the Panthers were outrushed 264-42 by the Steelers.

“We didn’t block good enough, all of us,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “It’s pretty simple. … Even when we did get the running game going it seemed like every positive run was negated by a penalty. We’ve got to stop hurting ourselves.”

Rivera said Carolina’s running game struggles are due in part to the injuries to quarterback Cam Newton.

The NFL’s most productive rushing quarterback over the past three seasons with 2,032 yards rushing and 28 TDs has been handcuffed by ankle and rib injuries. In fact, the Panthers didn’t call any designed runs for Newton on Sunday night and he was limited to 7 yards on two carries.

Newton said he “wasn’t asked to run” against the Steelers.

Rivera said the Panthers want to limit the number of shots Newton takes on the field. He estimated Newton was hit nine or 10 times by the Steelers, which included three sacks.

“We know he is a big part of what we do,” Rivera said of Newton, who is Newton is on pace to rush for 384 yards this season — well behind his career average of 677. “The thing it shows is we can’t rely on him all of the time. Now we have to find other answers and other ways to (run the ball) — and the coaching staff is working on that.”

When asked if the Panthers can be an effective running team without Newton, Rivera said “we’re going to have to be.”

Carolina’s leading rusher after three games is Stewart with 88 yards on 29 carries, a 3-yard average.

“Right now he’s not quite where we need him,” Rivera said of Newton. “He will get there. The thing we have to do in the meantime is (everybody else) has to pick it up.”

Rivera that includes the offensive line, which he said needs to be more physical and “play with more attitude.”

The Panthers were looking for their first 3-0 start since 2003, the year they went to the Super Bowl.

Instead, they’ll head into Sunday looking to stay above .500 against another tough, physical AFC North defensive opponent in the Ravens — a team that beat the Steelers 26-6 just two weeks ago.

“That’s the one thing about the NFL: It’s a long year,” Olsen said. “We’re 2-1. We’re going to play a very good team next week that’s coming off of two back-to-back wins. They beat the team we just lost to pretty good. … We have to get back and fix our mistakes first before we worry about who we’re going to play.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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