The Carolina Panthers could face a dilemma after their Sunday Night Football loss to the Detroit Lions.
Sitting at 1-2, the Panthers have been dealt blow after blow, with injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, including those injured before the season began. Despite this, quarterback Bryce Young is leading the NFL in passing yards through three games.
Sunday night could present general manager Dan Morgan with two potential realities that may be intersecting with the injuries piling up.
Carolina Panthers' injury crisis could force Dan Morgan into a potential trade
Those two realities are essentially Carolina's winning and losing scenarios on Sunday night. Either way, it will determine how Morgan and his second-in-command, Brandt Tilis, operate during the bye week.
During and after the bye week, the Panthers will most likely get both running back Trevor Etienne and interior offensive lineman Brady Christensen back from injured reserve.
Best case, veteran right tackle Taylor Moton is designated to return from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, but the Panthers will need help either way.
Carolina gets healthier, but with injuries at cornerback, interior offensive line, and wide receiver, does Morgan pull a rare in-season trade for a player rather than send one out (or both)?
The Panthers will have rookie Will Lee III as their No. 1 cornerback with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. out for the foreseeable future. A rough showing against the Lions' passing attack could encourage Morgan to acquire a new defender.
Dan Morgan's trade choice may hinge on Carolina Panthers' prime-time result
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon, in the final year of his current contract, would kill two birds with one stone by upgrading the kick return position.
At wide receiver, the Panthers placed Xavier Legette on injured reserve with a knee injury, and he is out for the next four weeks. At some point, when is enough enough in hoping the South Carolina product can overcome these injuries and inconsistencies?
Carolina could use Legette in a trade, potentially to acquire another wideout with explosiveness and field-stretching ability.
Some will bring up Jacksonville Jaguars’ wideout Brian Thomas Jr., who would bring that exact skill set and be a perfect fit with the current duo of Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
While Jacksonville might be reluctant for the moment, the emergence of rookie Josh Cameron could push Thomas out.
However, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Morgan and head coach Dave Canales settled with what they have and leaned into whatever answers they believe are on the roster.
At some point, you have to use your draft capital to make acquisitions that benefit the franchise. That opportunity could be had as soon as the bye week or after.
Either way, Morgan's dilemma will be one to watch for Sunday night and beyond.
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