NFL

Panthers receiver finally returns to field

By wire services
Published May 1, 2005

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Steve Smith is finally back on the field, running long routes for the Panthers.

As far as quarterback Jake Delhomme is concerned, it doesn't look like his top target has missed a beat. Smith, Carolina's leading receiver in 2003, missed 15 games last season after breaking his leg in Week 1.

"He looked good," Delhomme said. "I wasn't too worried about him. You don't want to make light of an injury, but a lot of guys have come back from that. I've thrown with him the last couple of weeks, and I kind of knew what he could do when he came out."

Smith is participating in Carolina's three-day minicamp this weekend after slowly easing back into shape once doctors cleared him to begin running in March.

He is adjusting to his surgically repaired leg, which includes seven screws and a metal plate.

"You can tell there's a foreign object in my leg," Smith said. "It felt a little different."

Smith will try to duplicate his breakout season of 2003, when he caught a career-high 88 passes for 1,110 yards and seven touchdowns. He also helped the Panthers reach the Super Bowl with 18 catches for 404 yards and three touchdowns.

"I don't have to do anything different, just go out and do my job," Smith said. "I just have to do what they brought me here to do and do what I did in 2003, just make plays and let my actions speak louder than my words."

INDIANAPOLIS - Dwight Freeney, last season's sack leader, recently had shoulder surgery and might not be ready to practice when the Colts open training camp in July, coach Tony Dungy said.

"Just a cleanup," Dungy said. "We kind of knew that it was coming. We expect him to be full-go right around the beginning of camp."

The defensive end led the league last season with a franchise-record 16 sacks, his third consecutive season with double-digit sacks.

BILLS: Tight end Kevin Everett, a third-round pick, missed both minicamp practices because of swelling in his left knee. He was hurt Friday when he made a catch and his foot appeared to stick in the turf when he planted. Coach Mike Mularkey said the team will wait for the swelling to diminish before conducting tests.

FALCONS: Free safety Cory Hall has decided not to re-sign, coach Jim Mora said. The six-year veteran, who started 23 of 25 games in two seasons with Atlanta, was cut March2 for salary cap purposes.

RAVENS: Receiver Mark Clayton, a first-round pick, strained his left hamstring and was held out of practice. The injury, which occurred while running a pattern, is not considered serious.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 23:59:18]