Artis-Payne has already lost around 10 pounds in an effort to get in better shape ahead of this season.
Artis-Payne's rookie campaign started slow last year, but with starter Jonathan Stewart out for the Panthers' final three regular season contests, the former fifth-round pick capitalized nicely on his increased snap count. Now as he enters his second season, Artis-Payne is determined to improve his conditioning by losing a few pounds. If all goes well over the summer, Artis-Payne could emerge as the Panthers' No. 2 option at running back behind Stewart this season.