Jaycee

Horn

Horn has missed more games than he has played in after the Panthers selected him No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, appearing in just 22 games while missing 29. He reportedly added more weightlifting to his offseason routine, saying Monday, “Just trying to switch something up and start from ground zero and build my body back up.” Horn added, “I know what I’m capable of, and I still feel like I’m one of the best DBs in this league. I’ve just got to be out there to show it. So, that’s what I’m looking forward to doing.” Horn will play the 2024 season on the fourth year of his five-year rookie deal after the team exercised his fifth-year option in April.

This was far from a guarantee because of Horn’s injury history, but he is still only 24 years old and the cellar-dwelling Panthers can’t afford to be throwing in the towel on young talent. It is looking increasingly less likely Horn ever lives up to his No. 8 overall pedigree, but he continues to make a visible impact and earn strong Pro Football Focus coverage marks when on the field.

Horn, a 2021 first-round pick, missed three months with a hamstring injury, but he was activated off the IR earlier in the month but will now make his first appearance on the field since September. That’s good news for the Panthers with all of their other secondary injuries, but it’s unclear if Jaguars back-up QB C.J. Beathard is the man to take advantage of those injuries.

Ekwonu was limited in practice throughout the week and looks like a good bet to play on Sunday. That’s good news for Bryce Young, who is coming off the best game of his rookie season but would struggle to keep the ball rolling without his left tackle in the lineup. Cornerback Jaycee Horn is also listed as questionable.

The 2021 first-rounder somehow ended up missing three months with his hamstring ailment. It was just the latest injury blow for a talented corner who has now missed 29 of a possible 46 NFL games. The back end of the Panthers’ defense has performed reasonably well in Horn’s absence, stamping out big plays. Horn absolutely has to gain some career momentum down the stretch of this lost Carolina season.

Horn’s 21-day window is now opened. The Panthers don’t need to rush him back to the field, but he’ll at least begin practicing this week. Horn’s hamstring injury was somewhat severe, as the former first-round pick hasn’t played since Week 1. The Panthers are 1-8 and have virtually no hope of making the postseason. They almost certainly won’t rush Horn back until he’s 100-percent ready to return, but the three week deadline is now underway. In addition to Horn, the Panthers also opened the return window for tight end Ian Thomas (calf).

Horn will miss at least the next four games recovering from his injury, but as Ian Rapoport noted in a post, “Horn should be on the field at some point in the second half of the season.” It doesn’t sound like the Panthers are expecting Horn to return after the four-game minimum, but we’ll know more about that as his return date draws near. For now, we know the Panthers are down their No. 1 corner, which should provide a boost to the Saints’ pass-catchers heading in to Week 2.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich wouldn’t give an exact timeline for Horn’s return but did mention that will be out an extended period of time. As the number one cornerback for the Panthers, that’s a big loss and could mean a bump in fantasy value for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed as the Panthers take on the Saints in Week 2.

It sounds like Horn, who injured his hamstring in Week 1 against the Falcons, could be out for months rather than weeks. It’s a tough break for Horn, who missed 18 games in his first two NFL seasons. Carolina’s secondary could be one to target in the coming weeks.

Horn, who missed 18 games in his first two NFL seasons, will be sidelined for a while after leaving Week 1’s loss to the Falcons with a hamstring injury. Carolina’s secondary takes a hit without Horn, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 draft.