Smith has had his way vs. Vikings

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith had a few memorable performances against the Vikings, and he has extra incentive to add another Sunday.

Already riding high from a 2-0 start, the Panthers welcome their three-time Pro Bowl receiver back after he was suspended for two games by the team for breaking teammate Ken Lucas' nose during a training camp fight.

"You would hope that he comes back rusty," Vikings safety Darren Sharper said. "But knowing him, he's not going to be rusty."

Vikings players said they expect Smith will try and make a splash in his return. He's done it to them before.

In 2001, as a rookie, Smith took the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player to return a season-opening kickoff for a touchdown since 1980.

In 2005, he torched cornerback Fred Smoot all game to finish with 11 catches for 201 yards in Charlotte, N.C.

"Of course he's going to want to come back and have a big game," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "He's going to want to touch the ball. He's a good player. Catching screens, going deep, he does it all."

While some Vikings players loudly voiced their frustrations in the locker room after Sunday's loss, coach Brad Childress said he is not concerned about a fracture among his players.

"I'm not concerned about that because I like our football team," he said. "Are there bound to be frustrations? I'm sure there are. That's part of football. When your emotions are high ... after a football game there are going to be emotions like that. I would worry if it wasn't like that. But fracture is a little bit strong. Are people irritated? Do they not want to lose? Absolutely, they don't want to lose."

Childress and several Vikings players say they tune out the boos that cascade from the stands sometimes when things go awry, much like what quarterback Tarvaris Jackson experienced Sunday.

But is that even possible?

"Oh you hear it," wide receiver Bobby Wade said. "I can understand sometimes when you're zoned into the moment you're not really hearing the crowd. But it happens when you're coming off the field. People hear it. It's unfortunate that it happens that way. But as easy as they can boo, it's that much easier for them to cheer and clap. They prefer to be on your side vs. against you."

• A Vikings official said the team is making progress in its attempt to sell the remaining 3,700 tickets for Sunday's game to avoid a television blackout. The team is talking to various corporations and has until noon Thursday to sell their allotment. The Vikings almost certainly would ask the league for a 24-hour extension if the tickets aren't sold in time.

• The Panthers got their first victory against the Vikings in the 2001 season opener, defeating them 24-13. That proved to be Carolina's only victory of the season as they finished 1-15. The Vikings, meanwhile, went 5-11, and Dennis Green was fired with one game left in the season. That was Green's only sub.-500 record during his 10 seasons as Vikings coach.

• The Vikings released offensive lineman Tim Mattran from their practice squad. Mattran, a Chaska native who played college football at Stanford, signed as an undrafted free agent.

• Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who has started the season with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, is averaging 100.3 yards rushing per game in 16 career games. He has 1,604 yards in that time.