The Panthers may be walking into Sunday night in Detroit shorthanded at a spot they can’t afford to thin out.
Carolina could be without both of its starting outside cornerbacks against the Lions, with NFL reporter Tom Pelissero saying Jaycee Horn is out indefinitely after suffering a quad injury Sunday against the Browns. Horn’s absence would be a major blow for a defense already dealing with a second hit in the secondary.
Horn has been a cornerstone for the Panthers, coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and a four-year, $100 million extension he signed last offseason. He had opened this year in solid form, allowing just five catches on 10 targets for 63 yards and two pass breakups, according to PFF.
The situation got worse when Mike Jackson also went down with a groin injury in the loss to Cleveland. Jackson left in the first half and never returned, and there has not yet been an update on his status.
The eight-year veteran, who had a brief stint with the Lions in 2019, has put together a strong stretch of play lately. In 2025, Jackson led the NFL with 19 passes defended and added four interceptions.
If both corners are unavailable, Carolina’s depth chart gets thin fast. The remaining options include fourth-round rookie Will Lee III, Akayleb Evans, and nickel corner Chau Smith-Wade.
The Panthers also have three practice squad cornerbacks: undrafted rookie DeVonta Smith, plus two more undrafted players from the 2025 class, Zion Childress and Corey Thornton. Of that group, Thornton is the only one with any real NFL experience, having played in 12 games and 127 defensive snaps last season.
It’s a situation worth watching throughout the week, especially with Detroit’s passing game coming in hot. The Lions rank eighth in passing yards at 247.7 per game, third in passer rating at 116.1, and are tied for second in passing touchdowns with eight.
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Lions Suddenly Have A Tough Center Decision Before Division Games
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