Steve Smith had surgery Tuesday on his broken left leg, leaving the Carolina Panthers searching for replacements for their top receiver and punt returner.
Both candidates, Keary Colbert at receiver and Chris Gamble at returning kicks, are rookies.
Smith broke his leg late in the fourth quarter of Carolina’s 24-14 loss to the Packers on Monday night.
Coach John Fox said he was unsure how long Smith will be out, but broken fibulas typically take at least eight weeks to heal.
– The Titans signed veteran kicker Gary Anderson, making room for the NFL’s all-time leading scorer by releasing Aaron Elling after one game. Anderson, a 23-year veteran, rejoins the Titans after the start of the season for the second straight year. Tennessee’s regular kicker, Joe Nedney, was placed on injured reserve after the first game last year with a knee injury and before last weekend’s win over Miami with a torn hamstring.
– Running back Dorsey Levens returned to Philadelphia, signing a one-year deal a little more than a week after the Eagles released him.
– Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser will miss the next two weeks after an MRI revealed damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
– The Saints joined the exodus of people from New Orleans and moved their base of operations to San Antonio, far from the reach of approaching Hurricane Ivan. The Saints will return to New Orleans on Friday afternoon for Sunday’s game in the Superdome against the San Francisco 49ers.
