4 bold changes the Carolina Panthers should consider vs. the Vikings
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers should activate Shi Smith
Getting solid production in the passing game hasn’t really been a problem outside of last Sunday. The Carolina Panthers moved the football well when Sam Darnold gets time in the pocket, but considering the quarterback is being hurried a lot, having possession wideouts capable of getting open quickly is essential.
Getting Christian McCaffrey back into the lineup is going to be a massive boost. Matt Rhule is hopeful his star running back can return after a two-game absence against the Minnesota Vikings, but giving him 30 touches right out of the gate wouldn’t be the smartest move in the world.
If the Panthers want to throw something at Minnesota they aren’t quite expecting, then activating Shi Smith for the first time this season is worth considering.
Carolina is taking their time with the sixth-round pick, but with Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall Jr. struggling to find the right chemistry with Darnold, getting the South Carolina product involved in some capacity could be the making of him.
Smith has a lot of likable traits. He works well out of the slot, has superb ball skills, and plays with a competitive edge that’s hard not to love.
As Steven Nelson stated, things are becoming increasingly predictable on offense. Putting Smith into the mix would change all that in an instant.