Steve Smith Sr. Becomes 14th Player to Join 1,000-Reception Club

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. caught eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

While the result wasn't ideal, Smith's third catch of the day made him just the 14th receiver to total 1,000 career receptions, per ESPN Stats & Info. His next catch put him ahead of Hines Ward—who retired with exactly 1,000 catches—for 13th on the all-time list, per Pro Football Reference. The 16-year veteran wideout finished the day with 1,005 career receptions.

Smith does have one distinction from the other receivers in the 1,000-catch club, however. He is the only receiver in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions (1,005), 1,000 punt-return yards (1,684) and 2,000 kickoff-return yards (2,371).

The 37-year-old didn't see the field much on offense in his rookie season. Smith's biggest contributions in his inaugural campaign came on special teams, where he racked up 364 punt-return yards and 1,431 kick-return yards in addition to three touchdowns.

His offensive role greatly expanded in his second campaign, but Smith also remained a consistent part of the return game. That largely ended after 2004 following a severe leg break in the season opener that cost him the rest of the year.

Despite one of Smith's best efforts of the season Sunday, the Ravens weren't able to put away the league-best 9-1 Cowboys. Baltimore's season record dropped to 5-5, and a 24-9 Pittsburgh Steelers victory over the winless Cleveland Browns has resulted in a tie atop the AFC North between the two fierce rivals.

Smith can realistically set his sights on moving up one more spot on the receptions list before his career comes to a close.

Issac Bruce sits at 1,024 career receptions, while the recently retired Andre Johnson (1,062) is the next nearest non-active player on the list. Smith has an outside shot at passing Johnson, but it would require weekly repeat performances of Sunday's output and probably a deep postseason run from the Ravens.