"Steve Smith has not attended any of the Panthers players' workouts this week or last.

But the disgruntled wideout showed up Monday to take batting practice with seven of his teammates before the Charlotte Knights' game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Smith, who has indicated he wants to be traded after the lockout, said a health issue involving his wife, Angie, has prevented him from taking part in the informal workouts.

"Right now there's a lot of things on my plate with my wife and her health. My family needs me at home, and that's the most important thing," said Smith, whose wife and three children accompanied him to the Knights' game. "Football right now is the last thing on my mind when it comes to some of the things in the last month that we've been dealing with as a family."

Smith did not divulge any particulars about his wife's condition, but said she was OK.

Smith was noncommittal about his future, saying he was "not sure what's going to happen."

He was visibly frustrated at the end of the 2010 season, the least productive of his 10-year career."