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Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008

Smith, Lucas back at practice together

CHARLOTTE -- The last time Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith and cornerback Ken Lucas were on the practice field together, things didn't go so smoothly.

But Saturday morning, the two were out there again, just over two weeks after their camp-defining sideline fight on Aug. 1.

Lucas has missed both preseason games and all the practices since then with the broken nose he suffered in the altercation. Smith hasn't worked since suffering a concussion in the preseason opener against Indianapolis.

While the drama of their last encounter will go down as the standout moment of training camp, the significance of their returns was initially lost on coach John Fox.

"That's well past," Fox said Saturday. "Until you mentioned it, I didn't even think about it. It's just good to have them both back."

Getting Smith back will help them practice more normally, since veteran Muhsin Muhammad (ribs) was held out of their first workouts at Bank of America Stadium since camp closed. Fox said Muhammad did not suffer a concussion from the helmet-to-helmet shot he took from Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.

Smith's going to miss the first two preseason games with a suspension that resulted from the fight, but they'll need him beyond then.

• TWO MORE IN THE STABLE: A pair of Panthers recently changed agents, shifting to super-rep Drew Rosenhaus.

Defensive end Charles Johnson and offensive lineman Evan Mathis made the switch, according to NFLPA documents.

Johnson's under contract through 2010, but Rosenhaus may be able to get a commission off Mathis this year, after the Panthers cut him and he signs somewhere else.

Rosenhaus also represents linebackers Jon Beason and Dan Connor and defensive tackle Damione Lewis. And while other teams are scared off by the bombastic agent, the Panthers have always had pleasant negotiations with him and don't view him as a problem.

• EXTRA POINTS: Smith wasn't the only receiver returning to the field Saturday, as Dwayne Jarrett came back from his knee bruise to work. That gives them seven healthy bodies at the position again, since Muhammad (ribs), D.J. Hackett (toe) and Ryne Robinson (knee) are still out.

Robinson's going to be out until the start of the regular season at the earliest, but the other two stay "day-to-day." ...

It looked like cornerback Chris Gamble (hamstring) and tight ends Dante Rosario (hamstring) and Gary Barnidge (gluteal strain) are getting closer to coming back, as Gamble was covering them on pass routes run half-speed on the sidelines. ...

The only other new addition to the injury report was rookie tight end Chris Conklin (illness).