Dallas Cowboys receiver Jonathan Mingo is still trying to get his feet settled at the Star, and after being in Mike McCarthy’s offense for the past month, it is clear there’s still room to grow.

Dallas used a fourth-round pick to trade for Mingo at the October deadline, and in true Cowboys fashion, Mingo has barely been sighted in the offense, having just two catches for 10 yards. Hence, the question of why the Cowboys would use a pick on a player who isn’t in the team’s immediate plans.

Now, the receiver returns to the place where he was drafted for the first time since being traded, and ahead of the emotional return, McCarthy has given his thoughts on how Mingo as progressed since becoming a Cowboy.

“He’s definitely what you thought he was physically,” McCarthy said on 105.3 The Fan. “But it’s just like any player, getting traded at that time, that late, and jumping in, it’s definitely going to be an adjustment, and he’s getting more and more comfortable each week.”

McCarthy could also use Mingo’s inside information on the Panthers, as the Cowboys need all the help they can get to keep their playoff hopes alive.

But is that truly something McCarthy does?

“It’s not a big deal,” McCarthy said. “But, also that’s something that usually comes out of the position coaches conversations earlier and so forth. But Jonathan’s a pretty even-keeled personality, so I don’t have any concern of him going back to Carolina.”

It will no doubt be an interesting afternoon for Mingo, and he will want to put on a show against the team that deemed him not good enough. … though he is downplaying that aspect of this trip.

“It’s really the next game on the schedule,” Mingo said. “I’m just trying to go out there and make plays and try to be the receiver I can be. I’m really not too worried about Carolina. Just trying to make plays. That’s really my focus.”

But to do that he has to show he warrants snaps, and so far he’s only played 79 snaps in four games, and that suggests he’s not ready for an increased role.

“The Mingo Package”? It might come against Carolina, but its far from a sure thing.