Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith was carted to the locker room with a right shoulder injury last night, the latest blow to another key player in an injury-filled start to training camp.

X-rays were negative, but general manager Marty Hurney was uncertain how long the four-time Pro Bowl receiver will be out. Smith was injured when he got tangled with cornerback Chris Gamble early in the evening workout, held without pads at Spartanburg, S.C.

Seeing one of the NFL's top receivers wincing in pain produced some tense moments for the Panthers, a week after they lost starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, a Kahuku and University of Utah alum, for the season due to a torn Achilles' tendon.

This injury doesn't appear to be as serious, but could keep Smith out for a while.

Smith had 78 catches for 1,421 yards and six touchdowns last season and is the top target of quarterback Jake Delhomme. Smith, who turned 30 earlier this year, is Carolina's franchise leader with 51 touchdown catches.

BUCCANEERS

WR BRYANT SIDELINED

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will sideline him for the remainder of training camp.

Bryant will undergo arthroscopic surgery.

Coach Raheem Morris said yesterday he expects Bryant to be ready to play in the regular-season opener against Dallas on Sept. 13. The receiver injured the knee late last season and has occasionally had problems since.

Bryant revived his career last season after being out of football in 2007, finishing with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

Determined to hang on to the seventh-year pro, the Bucs placed the franchise tag on Bryant in February. The move assured Bryant a salary of $9.88 million this season.

STEELERS

VETERAN CENTER SIGNED

The Pittsburgh Steelers, thin at center due to two injuries, have signed former Arizona Cardinals center Alex Stepanovich.

Justin Hartwig has been bothered by a toe injury since training camp started July 31, and Darnell Stapleton is expected to be out for several weeks following left knee surgery. Stapleton, who began camp as the starting right guard, was the backup center last season.

The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Stepanovich was a fourth-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2004 and spent three seasons with them before playing for Cincinnati in 2007 and Atlanta in 2008. He has played in 46 NFL games, making 34 starts.

ELSEWHERE

Saints: New Orleans' first-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins, a cornerback from Ohio State, agreed to terms on a five-year contract worth about $19 million late Sunday night. Meanwhile, tight end Dan Campbell (right knee) was placed on injured reserve yesterday, ending the 11-year veteran's season.

Lions: Veteran defensive lineman Shaun Smith signed a $1 million, one-year deal yesterday soon after the Lions lost Jared Devries for the season. Smith started 19 games in two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who cut him Saturday. DeVries, who started 29 games the past three seasons in Detroit, ruptured an Achilles' tendon that will require surgery.

Cardinals: Arizona running back Beanie Wells missed another workout at Northern Arizona University with a sprained right ankle yesterday, raising doubts that he'll play in the Cardinals' preseason opener at Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin returned to practice in the afternoon after missing morning drills with a swollen knee.

Cowboys: Running back Felix Jones missed practice at San Antonio to rest an injured toe that shortened his rookie season. Jones was held out yesterday morning. Also, special teams coach Joe DeCamillis ran practice without wearing a neck brace for the first time. He's used the collar since having surgery to repair a broken neck suffered when the team's practice facility collapsed in May.