CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Welcome back to the big stage, Jerick McKinnon and Fozzy Whittaker.
The Vikings and Panthers will be counting on their backup running backs to have a ''next man up'' mentality when they meet Sunday in Charlotte, a city that was placed under a state of emergency due to the violent protests stemming from a police shooting last week.
Both teams lost their ''featured backs'' last week to injury - Minnesota's Adrian Peterson underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, while Jonathan Stewart is dealing with a pulled hamstring.