The final injury report is officially in for the Carolina Panthers ahead their Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets and it’s almost perfect. Almost.
In an expected ruling, wide receiver Shi Smith will be out for Sunday’s game. The rookie had sat for each of the week’s three sessions, mainly working on a stationary bike away from the action, due to a shoulder injury.
Smith sustained the setback when he fell awkwardly on his left side in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Luckily, the severity of the injury was not as serious as first suspected.
The fact that Smith has not been placed on the short-term IR to begin the season is a positive sign for the fifth-rounder’s impending return.
Save for Smith, however, no other active player on the current 53-man roster was even listed on the report. As was the case for the entire week of practice leading up to the opener, the Panthers returned a clean bill of health on Friday.
