Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith was carted off the field Saturday with a hamstring injury on the opening day of training camp. Midway through the afternoon session, Smith pulled up while running a long route down the left sideline. He immediately clutched his left hamstring, took a couple of steps and fell to the ground. Two trainers came to his side, and new teammate Keyshawn Johnson also came over to check on Smith, who slowly got to his feet after about a minute. He threw his gloves in anger, got onto the back of the cart and was brought inside.

First-round tailback DeAngelo Williams, who holds the NCAA record for all-purpose yardage, reached a contract agreement with the Carolina Panthers late Thursday evening. Williams was the final signing of the Panthers 2006 draft class having signed their other seven selections. Williams was the 27th player chosen overall, and regarded by some scouts as the best pure running back in the draft. Williams will sign a five-year contract with a maximum value of nearly $10 million. The deal includes $5 million in guarantees.

After a two year hiatus from the NFL, offensive lineman Adam Meadows has been reinstated by the league. Meadows will now have the opportunity to choose the franchise with which he resumes his NFL career as he becomes a free agent. The Carolina Panthers have decided to terminate their relationship with Meadows after he retired abruptly in 2004. Even with his two-year absence from the playing field, and past shoulder problems that played a role in his decision to retire, Meadows is expected to generate interest once his name officially appears on the league's internal transactions document, which could come as early as Tuesday.

A former South Carolina physician who pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally prescribe steroids to NFL players was sentenced Monday to one year and one day in prison. Dr. James Shortt pleaded guilty in March to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Prosecutors have said current and former members of the Carolina Panthers were some of Shortt's patients.

The Panthers have signed third-round draft choice James Anderson, an outside linebacker from Virginia Tech, to a three-year, $1.567 million contract. The 88th player chosen overall, Anderson is the second of Carolina's eight choices in the 2006 draft to come to terms on a contract.