Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:43pm EST
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has been ruled out of Sunday's pivotal regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons because of a sprained left knee, the National Football League team said on Friday.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The (11-4) Panthers earned a playoff spot by beating the (10-5) New Orleans Saints 17-13 last Sunday and would clinch the NFC South division title and a coveted first-round bye with victory over the (4-11) Falcons.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> Though five-time Pro Bowler Smith has made good progress with his recovery since spraining his knee in the first quarter against the Saints, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he preferred to give him more time to get ready for the postseason.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> "Steve actually improved a lot," Rivera told reporters after team practice on Friday. "And in Steve's way, he basically said, 'If I had to, I'd play this weekend.' He probably couldn't, but he'd have tried.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> "It's about going forward," Rivera said, referring to the playoffs. "This game is very important and we know it, but there are other things ahead, too."
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Smith, Carolina's all-time leading receiver had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on Monday which revealed a sprained posterior cruciate ligament.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> Rivera said that running back Jonathan Stewart (knee) and defensive tackle Colin Cole (calf) had also been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Falcons.
<span id="midArticle_6"/> Ted Ginn Jr is expected to take over in the starting role from Smith, who has had 64 catches for 745 yards with four touchdowns this season.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
<span id="midArticle_8"/>
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has been ruled out of Sunday's pivotal regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons because of a sprained left knee, the National Football League team said on Friday.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The (11-4) Panthers earned a playoff spot by beating the (10-5) New Orleans Saints 17-13 last Sunday and would clinch the NFC South division title and a coveted first-round bye with victory over the (4-11) Falcons.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> Though five-time Pro Bowler Smith has made good progress with his recovery since spraining his knee in the first quarter against the Saints, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he preferred to give him more time to get ready for the postseason.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> "Steve actually improved a lot," Rivera told reporters after team practice on Friday. "And in Steve's way, he basically said, 'If I had to, I'd play this weekend.' He probably couldn't, but he'd have tried.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> "It's about going forward," Rivera said, referring to the playoffs. "This game is very important and we know it, but there are other things ahead, too."
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Smith, Carolina's all-time leading receiver had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on Monday which revealed a sprained posterior cruciate ligament.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> Rivera said that running back Jonathan Stewart (knee) and defensive tackle Colin Cole (calf) had also been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Falcons.
<span id="midArticle_6"/> Ted Ginn Jr is expected to take over in the starting role from Smith, who has had 64 catches for 745 yards with four touchdowns this season.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
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