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"Steve talked to me and he feels terrible about it," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "Now his focus is on the rehabilitating process and getting back as quickly as he can."
Smith had surgery Sunday night to have a small plate and screws inserted in his arm. His agent, Derrick Fox, said while it's the same arm he broke at the end of last season, it's in a different spot and not his wrist. Smith suffered no nerve damage, is expected to make a full recovery and could return as soon as midway through the preseason.
"They were messing around, the ball went over his head and he slipped," Fox said Monday. "He put his arm out to brace himself. When he did he felt a sharp pain. He went in [Sunday] afternoon to have an X-ray and it showed a break."
Fox predicted that Smith should be ready for the Panthers' regular-season opener on Sept. 12 at the New York Giants.
"I'm not trying to play doctor, but I don't think he'll miss any games due to this injury," Fox told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The 31-year-old Smith ranks first in team history with 58 touchdowns and 32 games of 100 or more yards receiving. Smith, who led the NFL in catches, yards receiving and touchdown catches in 2005, had 65 catches for 982 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games last season.
His absence from the start of camp on July 28 will coincide with major changes made at quarterback for Carolina. The Panthers released longtime starter Jake Delhomme, promoted Matt Moore to starter and drafted Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame in the second round.
The Panthers also enter the season looking for a No. 2 receiver after Muhsin Muhammad wasn't re-signed and then retired.
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