Jimmy Horn Jr.’s time with the Carolina Panthers ended quickly, and now the receiver is getting a fresh start with a familiar face.
After Carolina’s 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears in the 2026 regular-season opener, the Panthers moved on from Horn on Monday. He had been waived after a costly special teams mistake in Week 1, when he muffed a punt from Tory Taylor. Chicago recovered the sequence, turned it into a field goal and grabbed the lead, while Carolina lost a possession it badly needed.
Horn cleared waivers, and multiple reports say he is now signing with the Cleveland Browns. That move puts him back alongside his college quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, with the two having played together at Colorado.
A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Horn had a quiet rookie year in Carolina. He appeared in 13 games and finished with 11 catches for 108 yards.
He also got on the field in the playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, where he was targeted twice but did not make a catch. Even after making the 53-man roster, his expected role leaned heavily toward special teams.
Now he lands in Cleveland, where there’s at least a path to playing time for a young receiver. The Browns struggled badly in Week 1, and their offense is still searching for answers. Sanders is currently the backup to Deshaun Watson, but if he works his way into the starting job, Horn would already have built-in chemistry with him.
For Horn, the opportunity is straightforward: a reset, a new team and a chance to carve out a role on offense or special teams.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Lost A Receiver Dave Canales Still Wanted Back
The Panthers moved on from Jimmy Horn Jr. this week, waiving the rookie receiver after a short stay on the roster and opening the door for Cleveland to bring him onto its practice squad. Horn, a sixth-round pick in 2025, offered Carolina some versatility as both a receiver and returner, which made his departure notable even in a crowded young group.
Dave Canales had made it clear he wanted Horn back, but the Browns gave the former Colorado standout a new landing spot, where he now reunites with his college quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. For Carolina, it is another reminder that even fringe roster decisions can carry some bite when a player still has development left and a coach would have liked one more look. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Issue And A Bijan Dilemma
While the Falcons sort through a Week 1 quarterback picture that already looks a little more complicated than they probably wanted, the Panthers are still dealing with the kind of roster churn that comes with trying to settle a new season. Owner Dave Tepper said he feels good about where the organization is headed, and Carolina has continued to make small but meaningful adjustments, including promoting linebacker Tyrel Dodson from the practice squad.
The other move worth watching came with wide receiver Jimmy Horn, who was waived even as the Panthers hope to bring him back on the practice squad. It is the sort of transaction that can look minor on paper but matters on the margins, especially for a team trying to build depth and keep options open while the opening weeks of the schedule start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Just Sent Panthers Fans An Encouraging Early Signal
Bryce Youngs first game of the season offered the Panthers more than just a strong stat line. After Carolinas Week 1 matchup with the Chicago Bears, the quarterback pointed to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik as a key part of the operation, praising the way Idzik worked with him on preparation, play-calling and the sideline communication that helped the offense stay organized as the game unfolded.
For a Panthers team still trying to establish a clearer identity on that side of the ball, the public backing matters. Young completed 23 of 37 passes for 361 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, and he added a rushing score as well, but the larger takeaway may be the sense of trust between quarterback and coordinator already showing up early. How that partnership develops as defenses adjust will be one of the more interesting storylines around Carolina in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]