CHARLOTTE, N. Oliver Bjorkstrand Jersey .C. -- Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has been ruled out for Sundays game against the Atlanta Falcons. Panthers coach Ron Rivera made the announcement following Fridays practice, adding that running back Jonathan Stewart (knee) and defensive tackle Colin Cole (calf) will not play either. Smith sprained his left knee during Carolinas 17-13 win over New Orleans last Sunday. The win assured the Panthers a playoff spot, but this weeks game looms even larger. Carolina (11-4) can wrap up the NFC South division title and a first-round bye by beating the Falcons. "Steve has actually improved a lot," Rivera said. "In Steves way he basically said if I had to I would play this weekend. He probably couldnt, but he would try." Rivera, however, said the team doesnt want to risk losing Smith for the playoffs. "Not a chance," Rivera said. "Its about going forward. This game is very important and we know it. But there are other things ahead, too." Rivera said if the Panthers dont win the NFC South and secure a first-round bye, he expects Smith would be ready to play next Sunday in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Smith leads the team with 67 receptions for 774 yards and five touchdowns. Ted Ginn Jr. is expected to start at wide receiver for Smith, but Domenik Hixon will see increased action. Falcons coach Mike Smith acknowledged earlier in the week his team will probably alter how it defends the Panthers if Smith doesnt play. "Steve Smith is one of the most competitive, not just wide receivers, football players that Ive been fortunate enough or, weve been fortunate enough, to compete against," Smith said. "He brings a lot of energy. He brings a lot of passion to the way he plays the game. You do defend a little bit differently when Steve Smith is in the game based on where hes aligned and what the down and distance is, because to me hes one of the marquis wide receivers still in the NFL." Rivera said hes interested to see what Brandon LaFell will do as Carolinas primary wide receiver. LaFell is third on the team in receptions with 49 for 627 yards and five touchdowns. "Brandon has done nothing but take strides and get better as a football player," Rivera said. "And it will also be good to see as far as Ted Ginn is concerned and Domenik Hixon. These three guys have done some really good things for us. It will help us gauge where were at." The Panthers are also expected to lean heavily on tight end Greg Olsen, who has 64 receptions for 747 yards and four touchdowns. NOTES: Safety Robert Lester was added to the injury report Friday as questionable after getting his ankle stepped on at practice. Scott Harrington Jersey . CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (Pistons): Yes they got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in the off-season and Andre Drummond is a beast (teams are kicking themselves for passing on him - he rebounds and block shots every game - thats two more discernable and significant skills than most guys in his draft class), but dont for a second discount the impact of having a savvy veteran like Billups on your team. Matt Calvert Jersey . The 40-year-old midfielder was put in charge on Tuesday when David Moyes reign ended after 10 months with the defending champions in seventh place in the English Premier League. http://www.bluejacketsauthority.com/ .Currently no, Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs deputy director of the competitions division and head of womens competitions, said Tuesday in an interview from Ottawa.Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask, Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche keeper Semyon Varlamov have been named finalists for the 2013-14 Vezina Trophy. The award is handed out annually to the NHLs best goaltender. Bishop set the Lightning franchise record for wins in a season (37) and ranked fourth in the NHL. This is his first time as a Vezina Trophy finalist. The Denver native finished with a .924 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average. The last Lightning nominee for the award was Daren Puppa in 1996. Rask posted a 36-15-6 record, guiding the Bruins to their first Presidents Trophy since 1990. He was the only goaltender to rank among the NHLs top five in each of the major statisticcal categories, including finishing first in shutouts with seven. Lukas Sedlak Jersey. His .930 save percentage was the NHLs second-best and his 2.04 goals-against average was good for fourth overall. The last Bruin to be nominated for the Vezina is also the last to win: Tim Thomas in 2010-11. Varlamov led the NHL with 41 victories, as well as facing more shots and making more saves than any other netminder. He broke his head coach Patrick Roys and franchise record for wins by one single victory. Varlamov is a Vezina finalist for the first time and the first Avalanche goaltender nominated for the award since Roy in 2001-02. He finished third in save percentage with a .927 mark and posted a 2.41 goals-against average. China Jerseys WholesaleCheap Jerseys StoreCheap NFL HoodiesNFL Jerseys CheapWhite NFL Jerseys CheapNFL T-shirts From ChinaCheap Jerseys OnlineNFL Jerseys CheapNFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys ThrowbackCheap Jerseys Free ShippingNFL Jerseys WholesaleWhite NFL Jerseys CheapWholesale Nike NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys CamoCheap Authentic JerseysWholesale Jerseys 2019Wholesale Nike NFL JerseysChina NFL GearCheap Jerseys ' ' '