Smitty Questionable - tweaked other Hammy

Me either, but he'll be fine anyway. Any player who misses a practice is listed as questionable by rule.

 

If he's on the field at all they'll have to keep Hall and a safety on him.

 

You forgot about Michael Gaines. This is his breakout year.

 

I will take that as well.

 

fixed

 

in:1peekdoor

 

Sept. 6, 2006, 2:59PM
Panthers' Steve Smith may miss opener

By MIKE CRANSTON AP Sports Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Keyshawn Johnson looked at a group of reporters and tried to guess what the newspaper headlines would be. "Steve Smith not here. Panthers doomed," Johnson said Wednesday.

Not quite, but there is reason for concern as Carolina's All-Pro receiver experienced more hamstring trouble. He is questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta.


Smith, who missed 17 days of training camp with a strained left hamstring, did not practice Wednesday because of pain in his right hamstring. Coach John Fox said Smith suffered the injury in practice Tuesday.

"He tweaked his other hamstring and we rested him today," Fox said. "We'll see how he looks tomorrow."

Smith, who didn't have either hamstring wrapped while in the locker room after practice, was evasive when asked if he'll play Sunday.

"Today is not Sunday," he said. "I didn't get my Ph.D., so I don't know. I've had worse days, so I'm just going to plug away."

Smith injured his left hamstring during the second practice of training camp July 29. He missed more than two weeks with the injury before returning to practice.

Smith was then sidelined another week with an ingrown toenail that required stitches, and did not play in any of Carolina's four preseason games.

"He practiced 10 times and he's in great physical condition," Fox said. "We're just taking it slow, but he had a little setback."

Smith was the league's top receiver last season with 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the first player since Sterling Sharpe in 1992 to lead the NFL in all three categories.

If Smith can't play, either Keary Colbert and Drew Carter will line up opposite Johnson against the Falcons.

But Johnson believes Smith will suit up.

"I expect to see him playing. I don't know anything different, other than he looks fine to me. But I'm not a doctor," said Johnson, who has yet to play with Smith in a game since signing with Carolina in the offseason. "I think when it happens it will be fun. Hopefully he's playing possum."

If Smith does play, expect him to be fired up. Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall took a shot at Smith this week despite the fact Smith beat him for the decisive touchdown in a 24-6 win last December.

"I didn't think he had much success against me. Period," Hall told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "They weren't trying to go downfield with him at all. They threw a couple little narrow routes. Obviously, he broke that one. Bad tackling. Fluke play. You do it 10 times, I make that play nine times. So besides that one fluke play, the guy didn't have that much success against me."

Smith was quick to respond Wednesday.

"I guess when you're on the top you have a lot of people trying to knock you down," Smith said. "Some people are lower than others on the totem pole by age, performance and talk.

"When you talk, you're obviously insecure about something. You talk long enough, you'll hang yourself."

That competitive streak has led Falcons coach Jim Mora to plan on seeing Smith on the field Sunday.

"Lots of him," he said.

The Panthers also have some other injury concerns. Cornerback Ken Lucas bruised his arm in practice Wednesday and his status for Sunday's game is unknown.

Linebacker Na'il Diggs dressed for practice Wednesday and is listed as questionable with a sprained right knee suffered in the third exhibition game.

Defensive tackle Jordan Carstens practiced, but is listed as questionable with an elbow injury.

 

I was looking at the injury list and laughed when I saw this:

Indianapolis Colts -

QUESTIONABLE

MLB Gary Brackett (Knee)
TE Dallas Clark (Concussion)
CB Jason David (Groin)
SS Mike Doss (Lower Leg)
OLB Gilbert Gardner (Hand)
CB Nicholas Harper (Ankle)
TE Ben Hartsock (Hamstring)
DB Tim Jennings (Ankle)
T Charlie Johnson (Knee)
LB Freddie Keiaho (Knee)
G Ryan Lilja (Knee)
MLB Rob Morris (Shoulder)
DT Montae Reagor (Knee)
DT Corey Simon (Knee)
P Hunter Smith (Right Groin)
QB Jim Sorgi (Right Shoulder)
WR Brandon Stokley (Ankle)
DE Josh Thomas (Hip)
K Adam Vinatieri (Foot)

 

This game will come down to our ability to get them off the field on third down, and how much we can stunt their production on first downs.

Smith will play.