Panthers waive Jimmy Horn Jr. after costly muffed punt in Week 1 blowout

The Carolina Panthers are moving on from one of their young players one day after his costly blunder in the season opener. The Panthers waived wide receiver/returner Jimmy Horn Jr. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the team announced. The move was made partly to open space for Tyrel Dodson, whom the team signed

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The Carolina Panthers are moving on from one of their young players one day after his costly blunder in the season opener.

The Panthers waived wide receiver/returner Jimmy Horn Jr. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the team announced. The move was made partly to open space for Tyrel Dodson, whom the team signed from the practice squad.

Horn muffed a punt midway through the second quarter of the Panthers' 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears. The game was tied 21-21 at the time of the fumble, with Carolina having stopped Chicago on the previous drive as well. But when Horn couldn't corral Troy Taylor's punt despite calling for a fair catch, Kaden Davis pounced on the ball for the takeaway.

MUFFED PUNT AND THE BEARS GET IT BACK 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/mvy7CmfqWx

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 13, 2026

The Bears notched a field goal on their ensuing possession. Outside of a heave to end the half, Chicago scored on six of its final seven possessions, posting the most points the Panthers have ever allowed in franchise history.

Horn, a sixth-round pick out of Colorado in 2025, had 11 catches for 108 yards as a rookie.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panthers waive Jimmy Horn Jr. after costly muffed punt in Week 1 blowout