5 big changes the Panthers should consider at the Cowboys in Week 4

What changes should the Carolina Panthers consider making when they take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4?

It won’t be much longer before we find out exactly what the Carolina Panthers are capable of this season. Many experts have already written off their chances of getting to 4-0 ahead of their clash at the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, which promises to be a monumental challenge against a team that’s always in the national media spotlight and coming off two straight victories.

Of course, this task is more difficult without Christian McCaffrey, Jaycee Horn, and Juston Burris to call upon. The three prominent members of the starting unit suffered injuries in Carolina’s impressive victory at the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football.

This will obviously come with some adjustments. Thankfully for the Panthers, they’ve had some extra time to prepare while the Cowboys are on a short week having easily disposed of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday evening.

On this subject, we took a look at five potential changes the Panthers could make in pursuit of keeping their unbeaten run in 2021 going.

Change No. 1

Carolina Panthers use Shi Smith as KR

This is something we talked about before the last game, but with an additional period of rest for rookie Shi Smith, the time to unleash him could be upon the Carolina Panthers.

Nobody is expecting Smith to contribute in the passing attack that much. Even though there is definitely something there from a talent perspective.

However, if the Panthers want to bring him along gradually, then getting him valuable experience in the return game is the smart way to go.

Alex Erickson’s been handling these duties with limited success. Field position will be crucial against the Cowboys and Smith has an X-factor Carolina’s current option does not.