Steve L. Smith might be fine, but the same thing can't be said about the Carolina Panthers receivers as a unit.
Smith escaped a serious scare when X-rays revealed no broken bones after Tampa Bay cornerback Elbert Mack hit his left wrist on the frantic final play of Carolina's 20-7 loss to Tampa Bay. Mack came in hard and helmet-first on the hook-and-ladder to end the game, and Smith walked off the field wincing -- honestly afraid of what he was about to find out.
Smith broke the same wrist twice in the past nine months, last December in New York against the Giants and in June while playing flag football.
"Negatory," Smith replied when asked if the tests showed any damage.
So as much attention as the quarterback drama will receive over this week after Jimmy Clausen replaced Matt Moore, Sunday's loss further illustrated how thin and inexperienced the Panthers are at receiver.
"They don't have a lot in the way of threats over there at wide receiver," Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said, when asked how they game-planned Moore.
When you think about who starts next to Smith, it's a wonder how he manages to be productive. He's going to need someone to step up and be a threat to open things up for him as the season goes on.
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