Smith back on the field

Carolina receiver tests hamstring during practice session

Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith returned to practice Thursday for the first time since pulling a hamstring Sept. 5

"It feels good; it feels better than what it has before," Smith said. "I'm getting (toward) 100 percent."

Asked about Smith's practice, coach John Fox said, "You hold your breath, but he looked like he made it through pretty good. He looked good in the things he did on the practice field today. So we'll just see how he looks and feels tomorrow."

Fox was asked if the coaches limited Smith.

"Not really; we just put it on him," Fox said. "Nobody knows their body like themselves. He looked good and moved around well."

Fox said Smith remains day-to-day, as far as his playing Sunday in a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Later, Smith was asked if he would play if not fully healthy.

"Depends on the circumstances," he said. "I don't think it's anybody's call but mine. It's not my fans, not the media, nobody's but my call. Because when it's all said and done, if I screw my body up, they ain't going to be there."

OTHER INJURIES: Cornerback Ken Lucas (neck) also returned to practice. He and Smith remain listed as questionable for Sunday on the team's injury report. Receiver Drew Carter (fractured finger) practiced for the second straight day and remains questionable.

Listed as questionable and not practicing was running back Nick Goings (thigh). Safety Shaun Williams (foot) did not practice and is doubtful for Sunday. Linebacker Dan Morgan (concussion) is out.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Veteran Chris Draft, who had been playing weakside linebacker, is expected to start at middle linebacker against Tampa Bay over second-year player Adam Seward. The latter had been filling in for Morgan.

"Tampa Bay does a lot of movement and shifting, and Chris is a veteran guy that's done that for us before," Fox said. "We just think that right now this gives us our best option. And we've got Na'il Diggs back and healthy."

Diggs, who had been starting before being hurt, probably would start on the weak side.