FRISCO, Texas 鈥 For the 13th time in his career, Jonathan Mingo will suit up at Bank of America Stadium this Sunday afternoon.
Only this time, he won't be wearing the Panthers uniform, instead now with the Cowboys, who will be trying to get back on the winning track.
Mingo, who was traded by Carolina to Dallas back in November, said he's not getting caught up any extra emotions that might occur.
"It's really the next game on the schedule," Mingo said on Thursday in the locker room. "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."
Mingo only spent a year and a half with the organization, but it was still long enough to go through a pair of coaching regimes, which is one reason why he said things didn't work out with the Panthers. But he did take some accountability as well.
"It's more about a fresh start here," Mingo said. "Those (Carolina) coaches didn't draft me. It is what it is. They didn't draft me. When coaches draft someone, they've got their guys. But I could've played better too. But I've got an opportunity to have a fresh start. This is where I belong here."
Mingo added, "I'm gonna go out and make plays. Not trying to prove anything to them. Just trying to prove to everyone in the league that I can be a good receiver. Keep my head down and keep working. It hasn't came yet since I've been here but I'll keep working to help the team win."
In four games with the Cowboys, Mingo has just two catches for 10 yards. He's been targeted 11 times officially, but while he didn't say it, many of those passes haven't been catchable balls 鈥 something he thinks will improve with time.
"Life is about being patient. When it comes, I'll be ready," Mingo said. "I wasn't here with them in camp. Everyone is trying to figure each other out. It's coming though, trust me."
In the meantime, Mingo knows he can contribute on the field, epseically as a blocker. He's not afraid to mix it up, even at the line of scrimmage.
"I've always been a physical player. I try to show the coaches I'll do whatever they need me to. Whatever they need me to do, I'll do it," Mingo said. "I've been told that in college. Our motto our (Ole Miss) receiver coach had was "No Block, No Rock" so you had to block to get the ball. That was just a mindset we had.
"The running backs block for us. The O-line blocks for everyone. Any time you have to block for someone else, you have to block for someone else."
While he likes to block, he certainly isn't different from any other receiver who wouldn't mind getting into the end zone.
Mingo has yet to score an NFL touchdown. And with his parents, plenty of family and friends planning on being at the game Sunday, what better time to end that streak.
"It would be sweet," he said about having a big game. "But I'm just trying to play well, and help us win. That's the most important thing."
