Panthers WR Smith hurts finger during practice

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith has injured his finger during practice. Smith's finger was cut, but X-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and the team's No. 1 receiver, left Tuesday's practice early on a golf cart to have his finger checked out by the medical staff.

After practice, coach Ron Rivera feared Smith might have dislocated the finger, something Smith corroborated. "It's one of those things that happens to a receiver, you know, dislocating a bone through the skin," Smith told CBSSports.com. "It's one of those things that just happens. I'm going to get stiches, take the stiches out, and then I'll be ready to go again. It will be a week to a week-and-half. It just depends on how the stiches heal." Smith is the team's all-time leader in touchdowns and figures to play a pivotal role in Carolina's offense this season. In other injury news, starting right guard Geoff Schwartz is having his hip examined by doctors after sustaining an injury during Saturday's Fan Fest practice at Bank of America Stadium. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.