Carolina Panthers Hope to get Steve Smith Back for Week 1
The Carolina Panthers will open training camp in two weeks without their star wide receiver Steve Smith, who has a broken forearm.
But the team remains confident that his speedy recovery will allow their play-maker to be back in the line-up for the Panthers' September 2nd pre-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Even if Smith isn't ready for a pre-season game, Carolina is optimistic that he will be back for the September 12th season opener against the New York Giants.
Smith, 31, broke his left forearm while playing flag football in a recreational league. Playing football out of the team setting and participating in risky activities is banned in most NFL contracts. However, the Panthers aren't expected to take serious action against Smith, who will miss much of training camp.
"I wish I could take it back," Smith said on WFNZ. "But I am a regular guy outside of football. I mow my grass, too. I can get my finger chopped off fixing my lawnmower. I could roll my ankle playing tag or slip-n-slide with my kids. In hindsight, yeah, I won't do it again. But I was just having fun, playing with some guys."
Doctors placed two plates and 20 screws in his arm, which is in a cast. This type of injury takes approximately two months to fully heal. "Obviously, I put my team and myself in a bad situation by playing," Smith said. "But that wasn't my intention and wasn't what I thought the outcome was going to be."
Smith has been regularly working with trainers, according to a team source, and is itching to get back on the field with his team mates. Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the Carolina Panthers are looking to move forward with the veteran.
Smith is an experienced receiver with pro bowl talent, and he possesses in depth knowledge of the Panthers' offence. He is a starter in this league and the Panthers’ number one wide out. So missing part of camp isn’t much of a problem.
The scenario would be very different if he were a rookie or free-agent addition.
The only downside is it will take Smith a little more time to get into football shape and build a rapport with fourth-year pro quarterback Matt Moore. He will miss reps with Carolina's young quarterbacks such as rookies Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike.
Smith and Moore, the projected starter heading into the 2010 season, did have time to build some rapport at the end of the 2009 campaign.
Despite Carolina's issues at the quarterback position last season, Smith managed 65 catches for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. These numbers were impressive considering that quarterback Jake Delhomme probably had his worst season as a pro, which led to his dismissal.
With Smith out of action, look for rookie Armanti Edwards to step up and make a name for himself during his playing time. He will get more practice reps with the first-team offence because of Smith’s absence.
With Muhsin Muhammad's departure, Carolina is relying on Edwards to fill the void left by the two big time players. If he can live up to expectations and produce at a high level, he will be a player to watch in the pre-season and his career might take flight.
He will have his chance to shine; there is no doubt about that. He better make the best of his time with the first-team offence, because Smith will be looking on.
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