The Carolina Panthers have penciled in a new primary return man ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
On Tuesday, the team parted ways with second-year wideout Jimmy Horn Jr.—waiving
the 2025 sixth-round draft pick to make room on the active roster for inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Horn, who muffed a punt in Sunday's season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears, was listed as the first-string returner on both kicks and punts.But with Horn off, the Panthers—as noted in their initial depth chart for the week—have placed those duties upon receiver John Metchie III.
Metchie, who did not record a snap in Week 1, fielded four kickoffs and one punt during the preseason. He ran back the four kicks for a combined 111 yards (27.8 yards per
return) and the punt for eight yards.
Prior to the summer, Metchie returned seven kickoffs for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 regular season—averaging 17.1 yards per take.
Fellow wide receiver Xavier Legette and running back Chuba Hubbard, as they were in last week's initial depth chart, are down as the second- and third-string returners.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers tab new primary returner after Tuesday's cut of WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
