The Panthers pulled out a thrilling win over the Saints on Sunday and they did it without wide receiver Steve Smith’s help.
Smith was forced out of the game with a knee injury in the first half and did not return to the 17-13 victory. A league source tells PFT that the team does not believe the injury is a drastic one, but the Panthers will get more of an idea about the severity of his injury on Monday.
Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports that Smith said he felt something pop and that he will start the week with an MRI to provide more information about his injury. Reed also reports that Smith was not using crutches, although it sounds like he might still be icing up this evening.
“I am told that is nothing, but it doesn’t feel like nothing,” Smith said.
The Panthers are headed to the playoffs and having a healthy Smith will be essential to their ability to spend an extended period of time there, which means there will be some nerves in Charlotte until the results of Monday’s MRI are known.