Panthers sign returning Josh Norman to practice squad, Jaycee Horn set for surgery
The Carolina Panthers have turned to a familiar face to solve a major problem at cornerback ahead of their all-important Week 17 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran cornerback Josh Norman, who played for the Panthers from 2012 to 2015, signed with the Carolina practice squad Monday following a workout.
“We’ve got a chance, man — we’ve got a chance to get in that dance,” Norman said in a video tweeted on the Panthers’ official Twitter page. “We wouldn’t be back if that wasn’t the case, alright? And always, keep pounding.”
Norman, who turned 35 this month, was the top free-agent cornerback left on the market. His background with Steve Wilks makes him the ideal candidate to possibly replace top corner Jaycee Horn, who will undergo wrist surgery on Tuesday, according to the interim head coach.
While Norman hasn’t played this season, he did produce 7 forced fumbles in 15 games (14 starts) for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
Wilks said he spoke with GM Scott Fitterer about Norman on Monday after it became clear that Horn would need a procedure to fix his broken wrist. From there, a workout was scheduled for the afternoon.
Prior to the signing, Wilks noted that Norman wouldn’t immediately be thrust into the starting lineup. Wilks said he had confidence in Keith Taylor Jr. and T.J. Carrie to play opposite C.J. Henderson.
Norman played under Wilks during the coach’s first tenure in Carolina as a defensive backs coach. Norman became one of Wilks’ prized pupils, as he grew from being a fifth-round pick to an All-Pro under Wilks’ leadership.
The Panthers franchise-tagged Norman following his Pro Bowl and All-Pro campaign in 2015, but eventually rescinded the offer when it became clear that a deal couldn’t be worked out. Norman went on to sign a massive contract with Washington, where he played until 2019.
Over the past two seasons, Norman spent time with the Buffalo Bills and 49ers.
“He has experience in this league, he brings veteran leadership, and most importantly, I feel like he possesses our DNA,” Wilks said. “I know him personally, he played for me, he understands the culture that we’ve tried to create here and the element of play that we’re looking for.”
Regarding Horn’s surgery, Wilks said he wouldn’t rule Horn out for the rest of the regular season due to past experiences with similar injuries. Once the procedure is completed, the Panthers will figure out Horn’s return timeline.
In regards to other injuries, receiver/returner Shi Smith will undergo an MRI after injuring his foot against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, according to Wilks. The interim head coach also said that receiver/returner Andre Roberts (knee) made progress last week during his workouts under the 21-day practice window on injured reserve.
“I’m hoping that he can give us that spark in the kicking game this week,” Wilks said about Roberts. “So, we’ll see where he is.”
Panthers plan to sell playoff tickets on Tuesday
The Panthers announced on Monday that they will sell tickets for a potential home playoff game on Tuesday.
According to the team’s website, the postseason tickets will on sale at 11 a.m. at Panthers.com/tickets.
Fans will be able to purchase up to eight tickets. If the Panthers fail to make the postseason, purchased tickets will be fully refunded.
This story was originally published December 26, 2022 at 2:55 PM.
