Today at 1:00 p.m. ET the Carolina Panthers (2-1) will head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens (2-1) and wide receiver Steve Smith, who spent the first 13 years of his career as a Panther. Watch the game on CBS or live stream it here. Panthers fans can hear the action on WBT 1110, while Ravens fans may tune in to 1090 WBAL.
Smith was let go by the Panthers after a disappointing season in which he caught just 64 passes and scored four touchdowns.
"I never really imagined that I'd be in a different uniform," Smith said. "I never really thought that I'd be playing against the Panthers."
So far, the Ravens' decision to take a chance on the veteran has paid off. Through three games he leads the Ravens in targets (32) and he's reeled in 18 of them while scoring a touchdown. Even though he struggled toward the end of his Carolina tenure, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he knows how dangerous he can still be.
"We all know who Steve is and we know what Steve's done," Rivera said. "He's had a great career, he's assimilated very well to Baltimore, he's doing a great job for them. But after that, we're playing the Ravens."
The Ravens may need to rely on the run rather than the pass, however. FootballOutsiders.com has the Panthers pegged as the 29th-best rush defense, while the Ravens last week discovered a potential gem in their backfield-rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro. The rookie ran for 91 yards and a score against the Cleveland Browns, and he's going to share time with some effective rushers in Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett.
Panthers Injury Report
Foswhitt Whittaker
RB
Thigh
Did Not Participate In Practice
Doubtful
Garry Williams
T
Back
Did Not Participate In Practice
Doubtful
Jerricho Cotchery
WR
Thigh
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Charles Godfrey
CB
Ankle
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Roman Harper
S
Knee
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
DeAngelo Williams
RB
Thigh
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Thomas Davis
LB
Hip
Limited Participation in Practice
Questionable
Jonathan Stewart
RB
Knee
Limited Participation in Practice
Questionable
Ravens Injury Report
| Timothy Jernigan | DT | Knee | Did Not Participate In Practice | Out |
| Eugene Monroe | T | Knee | Did Not Participate In Practice | Out |
| Owen Daniels | TE | Not Injury Related | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Bernard Pierce | RB | Thigh | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| James Smith | CB | Knee | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Stevonne Smith | WR | Not Injury Related | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Terrell Suggs | LB | Thigh | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Christopher Canty | DE | Knee | Did Not Participate In Practice | Questionable |
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