"Wide receiver Steve Smith said today that he will be in the lineup Thursday when the Panthers play their third preseason game at Cincinnati, his first action of the preseason that was interrupted by a hand injury two weeks ago.

Smith said the stitches were removed from his left hand last weekend and he will wear a small pad under his glove to protect the injured area.

The veteran wide receiver spent extra time after practice with Legedu Naanee and Wallace Wright catching passes from quarterback Cam Newton and sounded happy about the progress.

"I thought today was our best practice. We were going on all cylinders," Smith said."