Jeff O Rocks
08-01-2003, 01:18 PM
Here they go again...
Injuries Sideline Two Carolina Panthers
POSTED: 6:50 p.m. EDT July 31, 2003
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- After a relatively quiet first week of training camp, the injury bug began to bite the Carolina Panthers.
Starting wide receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss at least a couple weeks of practice after he pulled a hamstring Wednesday. Reserve offensive tackle Melvin Tuten will miss the entire season after tearing ligaments in his left knee.
The exact status of Smith's injury was expected later Thursday.
He was being transported to Charlotte for an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. Head coach John Fox said that it could be a couple of weeks before Smith returns to the field.
"Our training staff doesn't think it's real serious, but he will miss some time," Fox said. "With these things (hamstring pulls) it's always kind of day to day."
Fourteen-year veteran Ricky Proehl, Terrence Wilkins and rookie Walter Young will split Smith's reps. Muhsin Muhammad is the team's other starting receiver.
The Panthers can hardly afford to lose Smith, especially after wideout Kevin Dyson tore his Achilles tendon during the June minicamp. Dyson is expected to miss at least half, and perhaps all, the entire season.
Tuten started seven games for the Panthers last season. The Panthers drafted Jordan Gross in the first round to play right tackle, but the team still viewed Tuten as a valuable backup.
Fox said the Panthers will probably place Tuten on injured reserve, meaning his season is over.
The Panthers initially thought Tuten had only torn his medial collateral ligament, but tests later revealed he had torn the ACL as well.
"It is disappointing because Melvin was having a tremendous training camp," Fox said. "He had worked real hard in the off-season. It will be a blow for us but we're going to have to regroup and move on."
Fox said the Panthers will try to sign a veteran offensive tackle in the next day or so.
In the meantime, second round draft pick Bruce Nelson will move to right tackle.
Injuries Sideline Two Carolina Panthers
POSTED: 6:50 p.m. EDT July 31, 2003
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- After a relatively quiet first week of training camp, the injury bug began to bite the Carolina Panthers.
Starting wide receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss at least a couple weeks of practice after he pulled a hamstring Wednesday. Reserve offensive tackle Melvin Tuten will miss the entire season after tearing ligaments in his left knee.
The exact status of Smith's injury was expected later Thursday.
He was being transported to Charlotte for an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. Head coach John Fox said that it could be a couple of weeks before Smith returns to the field.
"Our training staff doesn't think it's real serious, but he will miss some time," Fox said. "With these things (hamstring pulls) it's always kind of day to day."
Fourteen-year veteran Ricky Proehl, Terrence Wilkins and rookie Walter Young will split Smith's reps. Muhsin Muhammad is the team's other starting receiver.
The Panthers can hardly afford to lose Smith, especially after wideout Kevin Dyson tore his Achilles tendon during the June minicamp. Dyson is expected to miss at least half, and perhaps all, the entire season.
Tuten started seven games for the Panthers last season. The Panthers drafted Jordan Gross in the first round to play right tackle, but the team still viewed Tuten as a valuable backup.
Fox said the Panthers will probably place Tuten on injured reserve, meaning his season is over.
The Panthers initially thought Tuten had only torn his medial collateral ligament, but tests later revealed he had torn the ACL as well.
"It is disappointing because Melvin was having a tremendous training camp," Fox said. "He had worked real hard in the off-season. It will be a blow for us but we're going to have to regroup and move on."
Fox said the Panthers will try to sign a veteran offensive tackle in the next day or so.
In the meantime, second round draft pick Bruce Nelson will move to right tackle.