ceiver Steve Smith, who broke his arm during a flag football game last month, reportedly could be ready for game action in time for Carolina's Sept. 2 preseason game against the Steelers. This according to NFL.com's Jason La Canfora, who cited a source as saying that Smith is already making good progress towards a return.Carolina opens its regular season on Sept. 12 at the new Meadowlands against the Giants. If Smith can't get back for the team's final preseason contest, he should be healthy enough to suit up for that visit to New York, La Canfora reported.
Smith underwent surgery shortly after breaking his left arm this summer -- the same arm that he broke during a late-season game last season.
"I wish I could take it back," Smith told the Associated Press after his most recent mishap. "But I am a regular guy outside of football. I mow my grass, too. I can get my finger chopped off fixing my lawnmower. I could roll my ankle playing tag or slip-n-slide with my kids. In hindsight, yeah, I won't do it again. But I was just having fun, playing with some guys."Smith caught 65 passes for 982 yards last season, the first time he'd failed to top 1,000 yards receiving since 2004, when he broke his leg in Carolina's season opener.




