Jimmy Horn Jr. is making his case at exactly the right time for the Carolina Panthers.
With roster cuts looming and just one preseason game left before the team has to get down to 53 players, the wide receiver battle is starting to sharpen. Horn is right in the middle of it, and after Friday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Dave Canales had plenty of good things to say about him.
"Every single game we show up, he looks fast," Canales told reporters of Horn. "He had the nice around today. Had a nice catch down the field and had a 30-yard kick return at one point, too.
"Jimmy's making a really strong case for himself in terms of helping our team. And I'm excited to see him-especially just continue to grow in our concepts where the guys trust him, they know he's gonna be available and that's what he's doing."
That 30-yard kick return stood out for a reason. For players on the bubble, special teams production can be the quickest path to a roster spot, and Horn showed he can help there. It was the kind of play that adds weight to an already solid offseason.
Horn also handled his own comments with the same steady tone he’s shown throughout camp.
"It feel real good," he stated. "I'm doing something right, and just being consistent."
On the stat sheet, Horn finished with one catch for 15 yards on two targets. But the bigger picture matters here.
The former sixth-round pick in 2025 was in this same fight last year, and he eventually earned his way onto the 53-man roster. He ended that season with 11 catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns.
Now he’s back in the same conversation, and with one preseason game to go, the Panthers’ wide receiver competition remains one of the biggest offensive decisions ahead.
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