Panthers’ Smith Is Back at Practice

Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith practiced Thursday for the first time in more than two weeks, increasing the chance he’ll play Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Smith, who led the NFL in receiving last season, hadn’t practiced since straining his right hamstring Sept. 5. Although Smith remained questionable on the injury report, Coach John Fox was pleased with what he saw.

“You hold your breath, but it looks like he made it through pretty good,” Fox said. “He looked good in the things he did on the practice field today.

“We’ll just see how he looks and feels tomorrow.”

It appeared Smith was close to full speed and Fox said he was not limited in the workout.

“We put it on him. Nobody knows their body like themselves,” Fox said. “He moved around well.”

Smith wouldn’t say whether he will play against the Buccaneers, but said he continues to be cautious with the injury.

“It’s not anybody’s call but mine. Not the fans, not the media,” Smith said.

“It’s my call, because when all is said and done, if I screw my body up they aren’t going to be there.”

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Two dogs owned by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter got off his fenced property and killed a miniature horse on a nearby property, leading to citations that carry several hundred dollars in potential fines.

Porter’s dogs, a pit bull and a mastiff, got loose Tuesday and killed the horse that was less than three feet tall. The dogs were still in the dead horse’s corral when police and animal control officials arrived.

Porter was cited Thursday for harboring dangerous dogs, failure to confine the dogs and failure to have the dogs licensed.

Porter said he raised the dogs as pets and not as attack animals and plans to send them to a kennel in California for safekeeping.

Porter lives in Pine Township, north of Pittsburgh, but officials with the Northern Regional Police said Porter’s dogs were licensed in his hometown of Bakersfield.

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St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace, shaking off the effects of a concussion sustained in last week’s loss at San Francisco, returned to practice on a limited basis.

The Rams upgraded Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player, to questionable from doubtful.

St. Louis Rams defensive end Anthony Hargrove was an unexcused absentee for meetings and practice and was at home dealing with an undisclosed personal issue.

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Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis practiced again and pronounced himself ready for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

“They can expect a full-throttle Portis,” Portis said. “It’s no setbacks or limited plays for me.”

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New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles is questionable for Sunday’s game at Buffalo because of an unspecified injury to his left calf.

The veteran receiver sat out 11 on 11 drills for the second day in a row.