Panthers rookie running back Mike Goodson has been fined $7,500 by the NFL for making a throat slashing gesture on Monday. Goodson made the gesture after scoring a touchdown against the Giants. He was a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M.

Panthers receiver Steve Smith made a surprise return to practice on Friday. Earlier this week, Smith left the team during practice with what he thought was a broken shoulder. "It doesn't hurt as much. Sleep is kind of difficult, but it's all right," said Smith, according to the Associated Press. "I wouldn't say I woke up and said, 'OK, I'm healed.' But it's getting more tolerable." He told the press that he suffered a "pretty good bone bruise." X-rays were negative Monday night.

Carolina receiver Steve Smith will miss at least two weeks after suffering a right shoulder injury. Smith was carted off the practice field on Monday. X-rays were negative, and agent Derrick Fox believes that the receiver will miss two weeks at a minimum. "Steve has a high threshold of pain, and he's in a lot of pain, so something's off-kilter," Fox said, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Coach John Fox says that the Panthers haven't ruled out signing Michael Vick. "I think we're always having an interest in anybody who makes us better," Fox said Sunday. "I don't know, right now we're pretty set at quarterback, we like the guys we have, and I wouldn't want to rule in or rule out anything. I tell you guys that all the time. We're always looking to upgrade. At this point, we feel comfortable where we are." Despite the coach's comments, Carolina Growl points out that Fox's comments on free agents are usually standard.