Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn stressed how important it is for him to be on the field after his first two NFL seasons were cut short due to injuries. After leaving Sunday’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half with a hamstring injury, it looks like the 2021 first round pick will miss time for the third straight season.
A league source tells ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Horn will be out multiple weeks due to the injury. The Panther’ secondary unit has not had the best of luck when it comes to the injury bug the last few years. The Tom Brady- led Tampa Bay Buccaneers took advantage of a depleted defensive backfield last season, knocking the Panthers out of postseason contention. Carolina opted not to address cornerback depth in the draft and instead added veteran Troy Hill, who replaced Horn in Sunday’s game.
On Tuesday, the team signed veteran cornerback Lamar Jackson to the practice squad to add depth to the secondary. Jackson spent part of last season in Denver with current Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and has played 22 career games during stops in Chicago and New York (Jets) as well. In a corresponding move, the team released wide receiver Dezmon Patmon from the practice squad. Jackson joins corners Thomas-Oliver and Mark Milton on the practice squad. Horn, Hill, Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson, and D’Shawn Jamison are the corners on the 53-man roster.
