Farther down the same row of lockers, the man whose nose was broken by Smith's sucker-punch a month ago at training camp insisted they'll overcome being without their three-time Pro Bowl receiver as he serves a two-game, unpaid suspension to start the season.

"It showed the character of this team for us to have the ability to move on," cornerback Ken Lucas said. "People could still be dwelling on it, but we haven't. If anything, it has brought this team much closer than where we were at first. We realize how much we care for each other once the incident happened.

"It's like two brothers fighting. You're going to fight sometimes with your brother, but you're still going to love your brother."

Lucas acknowledged players discussed perhaps seeing if Smith's team-imposed suspension could be lifted. But the Panthers practiced Wednesday without Smith, leaving them with only three healthy receivers for Sunday's season opener at two-time defending AFC West champion San Diego.

"It has been a topic of discussion, but because of the rules, it can't happen," Lucas said. "All we can do is come out and win for him."

But it was clear Smith punching Lucas while he was on one knee with his helmet off during a break in practice Aug. 1 has changed the way Smith's teammates look at him. After overcoming early transgressions in his career that included a one-game suspension for punching teammate Anthony Bright during a film session in 2002, his teammates voted Smith a team captain last year.

On Wednesday, players voted to keep quarterback Jake Delhomme an offensive team captain - and replace Smith with veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

"It's a little unexpected," said Muhammad, beginning his second stint with the Panthers after spending the previous three years in Chicago. "There are a lot of great leaders on the field and guys that get it done."

The Panthers will not only need Muhammad's leadership Sunday, but plenty of production on the field, too. He'll start opposite either D.J. Hackett, who returned to practice Wednesday after missing nearly a month with a toe injury, or Dwayne Jarrett, who caught six passes as a rookie last year.

With Ryne Robinson and Jason Carter out with injuries, the only other healthy receiver is kick returner Mark Jones, who was signed Monday and has never caught a pass in the NFL.

Lacking options in the passing game, the thinking is the Panthers will try to quickly establish the run against the Chargers, especially after the solid preseasons by running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

"It seems like you're all downgrading the fact that we have Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett and Dwayne Jarrett," Williams said. "If I were them I'd consider that a slap in the face for the media to say with Steve Smith being down, the running game has to shoulder the burden."

Players were quick to defend their teammates Wednesday. It was part of a strikingly confident, relaxed atmosphere in the locker room. Perhaps it was because of the absence of the scowling Smith and his shrieking air horn used to shoo reporters out of the locker room at the end of the media access period.

But Smith's suspension leaves Carolina without its top receiver for the past three seasons and its only serious downfield threat. Dating to 2004, the Panthers have lost four straight games when Smith hasn't played. They started 0-2 in 2006 while he was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Despite the obstacles, the Panthers feel they can prevent another 0-2 start. And the most confident player appeared to be the guy who had his nose rearranged by the missing star receiver.

"I know once he comes back, the desire to play football is going to be burning in his stomach," Lucas said. "I know he's going to be ready to play once he comes back. I'm just excited about this season and the potential we have. I'm just telling everybody to grab their popcorn. It's going to be a good season."