Is Winfield the Smith stopper?

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Thursday the coaching staff has discussed matching veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield against Carolina receiver Steve Smith in Sunday's game.

Winfield ordinarily plays the left corner but because Smith lines up on the left side for the Panthers, he would spend much of his time going against right corner Cedric Griffin.

Griffin struggled at times last Sunday in the Vikings' 18-15 loss to the Colts -- he was beaten on Anthony Gonzalez's 58-yard catch in the third quarter -- and the coaches might want to match Winfield against Smith wherever he lines up.

Smith led Carolina with 87 catches in 2007 and provides a big-play threat. He had 11 catches for 201 yards in a 2005 victory over the Vikings. Smith will be playing for the first time this season after being suspended for the opening two games by the Panthers for breaking teammate Ken Lucas' nose during a training camp fight.

"We definitely have talked about it," Frazier said of having Winfield shadow Smith. "I think most teams do. When you play Steve Smith, you have to talk about him much like teams do when they get ready to play Adrian Peterson."

The Vikings' normal defense is a version of the Cover-2, but they end up playing man-to-man in some situations. In those cases, the matchup with Smith could be critical.

Winfield said the coaches have yet to approach him but the veteran would welcome the opportunity.

"He's a good player," Winfield said of Smith. "He's a short guy like myself but very strong, very explosive and he goes up and gets that ball. So it would be a challenge."

The attorney for suspended left tackle Bryant McKinnie said he hopes to get a trial date set for February or March on McKinnie's criminal case stemming from a brawl outside a Miami nightclub. McKinnie, who was suspended by the NFL for the first four games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, faces four charges for his role, including one felony.

McKinnie has a court date next Wednesday and a trial date could be set, according to attorney Larry Kerr. The judge also could request another hearing. Kerr has asked the state to allow McKinnie to enter a pretrial diversion program, which could lead to the charges being dismissed. McKinnie does not have to be present for the hearing Wednesday, and Kerr said he is not sure whether his client will attend.

• The Vikings received an extension from the NFL until 2 p.m. today to sell the 1,400 tickets that remain for Sunday's game and avoid their first local television blackout since 1997. Fox affiliate KMSP (Ch. 9), which is scheduled to air the game, is among the corporations the Vikings have talked to about buying the remaining tickets.

• Receiver Sidney Rice missed a second consecutive day of practice because of a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and it appears doubtful he will play Sunday. Meanwhile, receivers Aundrae Allison (foot) and Bernard Berrian (toe) also were limited again.

• Safety Darren Sharper has been limited the past two days in practice because of a shoulder injury but expressed no concern about the problem after Thursday's practice.