Panthers Notebook: WR Steve Smith on crutches

Smith on crutches: Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith missed practice Wednesday with a foot infection. He was on crutches Wednesday and is getting treated with antibiotics. Smith should be ready for the season opener, but his status for the last two preseason games has yet to be determined.

Best WRs in the league? WR Brandon LaFell didn't seem concerned about Smith's injury. He declared the Panthers WRs among the best in the league. “We've got guys that can compete with anybody,” he told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “I don't feel like there's a secondary that really can stop us.”

Longer outing for starters: The Carolina starters played about 25 plays against Miami in the second preseason game. Coach Ron Rivera expects that number to increase Sunday against the Jets, and some starters might play into the second half. “Ideally, we try to put a number on it, anywhere between 36 and 45 (plays),” Rivera told Max Henson of Panthers.com.

Davis ready for comeback ... again: LB Thomas Davis, returning from his third ACL surgery, is expected to make his preseason debut in Sunday's game. Davis is trying to become the first player in NFL history to return from tearing the same ACL three separate times. Steve Reed of the Associated Press looked at Davis' new role as a back-up to Luke Kuechly.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Carolina Panthers from blogger Shawn Krest, follow @CBSSportsNFLCAR.