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Panthers get WR Smith back, seeking 3-0 start

Sep 19, 2008 - 1:43 PM Carolina (2-0) at Minnesota (0-2), 1:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Everything appears to be going the Carolina Panthers' way right now.

After a pair of comeback victories, superstar receiver Steve Smith will make his 2008 debut Sunday when the Panthers visit the winless Minnesota Vikings.

Smith was serving a two-game suspension imposed by the team for breaking the nose of teammate Ken Lucas during a brawl in training camp.

"He's ready to roll," Panthers coach John Fox said. "Obviously, he excited to be back and excited we're 2-0."

Smith led the Panthers (2-0) in receptions last season with 87 for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns. He has caught 80 or more passes in three of the last four seasons, including a career-high 103 in 2005.

"He's arguably one of the rest receivers in the game," Fox said. "He's fast, he's quick, strong, tough. He brings a lot to the table."

Carolina overcame Smith's absence to post narrow wins over San Diego (26-24) and Chicago (20-17), rallying late in each one.

In the opener, Jake Delhomme tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dante Rosario on the final play of the game. Last Sunday, Jonathan Stewart scored on a 1-yard TD with just under four minutes left as the Panthers erased a 17-6 deficit in the third quarter.

The Vikings (0-2), on the other hand, have lost a pair of winnable games. In the season-opening 24-19 loss to the Packers, Tarvaris Jackson threw an interception with just over a minute left to end any chance of a game-winning drive.

Minnesota then settled for five field goals in a game it was dominating and eventually squandered a 15-point second-half lead in Sunday's 18-15 last-second loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Adrian Peterson has not been the problem, rushing for 263 yards and one score in the first two games of his second season. Much of the blame for the Vikings woes has been targeted at Jackson, who passed for 308 yards and a TD with one interception this season.

Coach Brad Childress pulled the plug on his young quarterback and announced that journeyman Gus Frerotte will start against Carolina.

"I'm always looking at what's giving us the best opportunity to win," Childress said. "If it's Tarvaris, it's Tarvaris. If it's Gus Frerotte, it's Gus Frerotte. If it's J.D. Booty, it's J.D. Booty."