The Carolina Panthers are putting cornerback Jaycee Horn on the injured reserve, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday. The injury is not considered season-ending, though, which leaves some hope he could return “at some point in the second half of the season.”
Horn suffered a hamstring injury in the Panthers’ season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported he’d be out for multiple weeks as a result. Carolina head coach Frank Reich also confirmed he’d miss “extended time” with the injury and hinted he might end up on IR.
Horn is in his third season in the NFL after Carolina drafted him No. 8 out of South Carolina. He has appeared in just 17 games, though, as he dealt with multiple injuries during his first two years in the league. This offseason, he dealt with an ankle and foot injury that kept him out of OTAs and minicamp, as well.
Last year was Horn’s best in the NFL as he totaled 53 tackles and three interceptions across 13 games. He had one tackle in the loss to the Falcons, but now it’s looking like the Panthers will be without him for some time.
What’s next for Carolina after Jaycee Horn’s injury?
After Horn’s injury, the Panthers signed Sam Webb to their practice squad. He was previously a member of the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad and is he gearing up for his second season in the NFL. After playing college football at Division II Missouri Western, the Raiders signed Webb as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He raised some eyebrows and made the team’s 53-man roster following training camp.
Webb appeared in all 17 games for Las Vegas last season including three starts, logging 36 tackles, defending three passes, and forcing a fumble in his rookie season.
He also appeared in all three preseason games for the Raiders this year where he had four tackles, defended a pass, and secured an interception in the team’s first preseason matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers that he returned for 43 yards.
His performance in camp and the preseason wasn’t enough to make the Raiders’ 53-man roster this season, as he was waived by Las Vegas and re-signed to the practice squad on August 29. Carolina then came calling and gave him another opportunity as the team now looks to find someone to help fill Horn’s shoes.
On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.
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