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Panthers are planning some personnel changes to create a spark on offense in Week 5 but the obvious idea is staring Dave Canales in the face

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 2:59 PM ET

The Carolina Panthers got a ready check in Week 4 in the form of a punch to the mouth by the New England Patriots. Nothing went right for Carolina in all three areas of the game on Sunday.

Special teams was the main disaster and the defense disappointed one week removed from a shutout performance, but the offense is still to blame as well. Clearly, some changes need to be made by the coaching staff going into Week 5 and looking just at the offensive side of the ball, head coach Dave Canales offered one solution to get the unit on track.

That solution is more involvement from rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. in the passing game. In each of the last four games, fellow rookie Tetairoa McMillan has led the Panthers in receiving yards while Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker (who's still dealing with quad injury that landed him on the IR) continue to deal with injuries. What the team has been missing is another player who can stretch the field, and Canales believes more opportunities for Horn could help with that.

“We’ll get to see Jimmy Horn. Want to make sure he’s able to go out there and give us significant reps," Canales said on Monday. "We’ll carve out a role because there’s certainly things he can bring to our offense with his speed and ability to carry the ball and make yards.”

If nothing else, Jimmy Horn Jr will provide a different element to the offense.

Glad he's getting a shot. Why not at this point? pic.twitter.com/pgETaFZW2q
— Keep Purring Podcast (Ben) (@KeepPurringBen) September 29, 2025

Horn was inactive for each game so far this season and getting him on the field and involved as a downfield receiver could create a spark, but the clear move to help the offense start quicker and be more effective is staring Canales in the face and it's an obvious change to make.

Panthers need to start feeding RB Chuba Hubbard

While the Panthers need a spark in the passing game to help open things up, the rushing attack hasn't been as advertised going into the season after adding Rico Dowdle to the room to complement Chuba Hubbard.

Hubbard, the team's top back, is still playing at a consistent level averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 4.7 yards per touch. The idea was that Hubbard would be the physical back and then mix in Dowdle to provide a spark on the ground when needed. But, the workload balance hasn't worked that way.

“I just believe that with the players we have in the backfield, if we can sustain drives, if we can play these games that way, then we have a full-speed runner, a violent runner in every time,” Canales added.

Dave Canales seems determined to have his RBs share time.
Chuba Hubbard played 35 offensive snaps vs. the Pats, had 10 carries for 49 yards, 3 catches for 20 yds.
Rico Dowdle played 27 snaps. Had 9 carries for 32 yards, 1 catch for minus-2 yards.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 29, 2025

During Hubbard's time in Carolina, it's proven that the more carries he gets early, the more impactful he can be for the offense by wearing down opposing defense. Yet, the Panthers continue to mix in Dowdle early in games without much success compared to Hubbard's opportunities.

The Dolphins have allowed the third-most rushing yards and fourth-most rushing yards per carry this season. Committing to the run game early and allowing Hubbard to punish the defense in the second-half seems like the obvious plan of attack for this matchup on Sunday.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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