Panthers CB Jaycee Horn isn’t fretting latest injury with familiar face returning to town
Jaycee Horn knows a thing or about injuries.
During the first three seasons of his NFL career, the 25-year-old Carolina Panthers cornerback missed 29 of a potential 51 games due to various ailments. So far, this season, though, he hasn’t missed a matchup.
But on Sunday, during the team’s 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Horn tweaked his groin and was taken out of the game during the second half. He didn’t return to the field as rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade filled in for him in the fourth quarter.
On Wednesday, Horn practiced in a limited capacity. Following the workout, the 2021 first-round pick expressed optimism about the injury.
“I’m good,” Horn said. “I got good news back — wasn’t (any) real damage to where I’d have to have surgery or anything like that. Any time you get that news back, you know it’s good news.”
Horn monitoring injury ahead of Cowboys matchup, Jonathan Mingo reunion
Horn, who spent much of the offseason bulking up, has been a stalwart in the secondary for Carolina this season. He also leads all NFL cornerbacks in run stops (14) while adding a heightened sense of physicality to his game.
As he enters the home stretch of his fourth season in Charlotte, Horn is looking to solidify himself as a top cornerback in the league. With just one year left on his rookie contract, Horn’s performance down the stretch could earn him a long-term contract extension.
And with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town, Horn could match up against the likes of Pro Bowl wideout CeeDee Lamb, speedster Brandin Cooks, or talented possession receiver Jalen Tolbert on any given play.
If he’s healthy, Dallas would present an excellent challenge for Horn.
“Any time you do get those matchups, it is fun because, you know, you’re competing against one of the best in the league,” Horn said about Lamb. “But for me, it’s the same approach, no matter who is out there. I just try to dominate my matchup and make plays.”
Another potential assignment for Horn could be former teammate, wideout Jonathan Mingo.
The Panthers traded Mingo to the Cowboys ahead of the annual NFL trade deadline last month, and he has produced just two catches for 10 yards on 11 targets in four games since arriving in Dallas.
After practicing against him for two summers, Horn knows Mingo’s quirks, and that could be advantageous for the Panthers on Sunday.
“It helps you for sure, because you’ve seen them, day in and day out,” Horn said. “If they were on your team, and y’all practiced together every day, that’s probably what you’re going to see on Sunday. They could add new tools to their bag, but for the most part, it’s going to be what you’ve seen as opposed to a guy that’s pretty good that you’re seeing for the first time. You don’t know what he can do, you’re just going off tape.
“So, it definitely is a factor when you’ve seen a guy that you’ve played with before. But on Sunday, it won’t matter what happened in practice, cause you know this is where it counts, and it’ll be a fun matchup. ”
But in order for Horn to match up with Mingo and the rest of the Cowboys’ playmakers, he’ll need to be cleared to play on Sunday.
“I feel like I’m day to day,” Horn said. “Just trying to see where I’m at. Today, really, was a double walkthrough. So, tomorrow will be a good day to gauge exactly where I’m at going into Sunday.”
Carolina head coach Dave Canales, like Horn, is optimistic about the cornerback’s outlook so far.
“His groin tightened up on him in the game, and so, we’re kind of taking him day by day right now,” Canales said. “He did a little bit of moving around (Wednesday), but not much today. We’re just trying to see if we can build him up to get him out there on Sunday.
“But again, it’s going to be day to day, just on his progress.”
Panthers injury updates: Brooks placed on IR, Clowney doesn’t practice
The Panthers placed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on injured reserve on Tuesday. The move will end the second-round pick’s rookie season after just three games. He re-tore his right ACL on Sunday in the 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fellow running back Raheem Blackshear (chest), who was also injured against the Eagles, was seen in a red non-contact uniform on Wednesday. Blackshear was taken to a Philadelphia hospital after he sustained a “blunt force contusion” in the first quarter of the loss at Lincoln Financial Field, according to Canales.
The team is listing Blackshear’s status as day-to-day, but there seems to be some optimism he could play against the Cowboys this weekend.
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney didn’t play against Philadelphia. On Wednesday, the veteran pass rusher was seen in a hoodie during the workout. He officially did not participate.
But wide receiver Jalen Coker, who has been sidelined for three weeks with a quad injury, did fully participate to begin the week.
Below is the full injury report for Wednesday’s workout:
Did not participate: OLB Jadeveon Clowney (rest/knee), RB Chuba Hubbard (rest), RB Raheem Blackshear (chest), LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder), DE A’Shawn Robinson (rest)
Limited participation: LB Josey Jewell (hamstring), CB Jaycee Horn (groin), OLB DJ Wonnum (knee), DB Lonnie Johnson (neck)
Full participation: WR Jalen Coker (quad), CB Caleb Farley (shoulder), DB Nick Scott (hamstring/IR)
Quick hits
▪ The Panthers signed running back Velus Jones Jr. off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad on Tuesday. They also promoted defensive tackle Sam Roberts from the practice squad to 53-man roster.
In order to make room for both players, Brooks was placed on IR and defensive end DeShawn Williams was waived. The team also added former Cincinnati Bengals wideout Trenton Irwin to the practice roster.
▪ The NFL announced on Wednesday that the league will host a regular-season game in Berlin, Germany, in 2025. As The Observer learned last month in Munich, Germany, there are tons of European-based Panthers fans willing to travel for games around the continent. The teams and date for the first Berlin matchup will be announced in “the coming months,” per the NFL.
▪ Over the past three weeks, the Panthers have 13 sacks, a total that leads the league during that stretch. Their Week 15 opponent, the Cowboys, have 12 sacks in that same period, which ranks second in the NFL.
▪ Wide receiver Adam Thielen needs just five catches to claim the fourth-most receptions by an undrafted player since 1970. He currently sits at 665 career receptions, which is four catches behind former Washington wideout Gary Clark. Former Denver Broncos wideout Rod Smith ranks third with 849 grabs.
▪ Former Panthers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. Gross-Matos, a 2019 second-round pick of Carolina, produced three sacks for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Gross-Matos signed with the 49ers in free agency in March.
▪ Eric Sudol was named Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s new chief revenue officer this week. He will start with the company on Jan. 6, 2025, which is the day after the Panthers’ regular-season season finale against the Falcons in Atlanta. He will report to recently promoted CEO Kristi Coleman, who oversees the operations of the Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium.
▪ During the latest Processing Blue podcast, The Observer’s Panthers reporters discussed Brooks’ injury, Xavier Legette’s drops and preview the matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The Processing Blue podcast is available on Apple podcasts, Spotify and on YouTube.
