CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers placed starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve ahead of Sunday night's game against the Detroit Lions.
Both players are expected to miss roughly eight weeks, Panthers coach Dave Canales said.
Horn injured his quadriceps during a 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns last weekend while Jackson left with a groin injury. Jackson underwent surgery on Tuesday; Horn will not need surgery.
Jackson joked in the locker room about having the same timetable to return as Horn.
“We gotta stop doing everything together,” Jackson said with a laugh. “It's tough, but I know the rest of those DBs, it's their time to shine. I told them, ‘one man’s storm is another man's sunset.'”
The injuries are particularly concerning given this week’s opponent. The Lions, led by quarterback Jared Goff, rank eighth in the league in passing and third in scoring through three weeks.
The good news for the Panthers is they have a bye in Week 5, which would allow the secondary some time to regroup.
Akayleb Evans and rookie Will Lee III are expected to start at cornerback moving forward, while Chau Smith-Wade would be the nickel back.
Evans had 15 starts for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 but has only two since. It would be the first NFL start for Lee, the team’s fourth-round draft pick.
“We just have to rally on defense and have that next-man-up mentality,” linebacker Jaelan Phillips said. “It's tough to see our guys down, but we have to pick up the slack for them.”
In corresponding moves, the Panthers signed veteran wide receiver David Moore and running back Anthony Tyus III from the practice squad to fill out the 53-man roster.
Carolina also signed cornerback Robert Rochell to the practice squad.
Moore has appeared in 22 games with seven starts since joining the Panthers in 2024.
He could give the Panthers another option at wide receiver if Jalen Coker is unable to play against the Lions. Coker left last weekend's game with a quadriceps injury.
Tyus spent the first three weeks of the 2026 season on the Panthers’ practice squad and was elevated for the team’s Week 3 game against Cleveland. He returned two kickoffs for 47 yards.
Word of Horn potentially being able to return this season felt like a bit of relief for the Panthers.
Horn, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, took to social media on Monday posting, “Injuries have held me back from reaching my full potential for too long, and that (stuff) hurts deep down to my core more than words could ever explain.”
Horn went on to say: “I love this game. I love my brothers. And I’m not done. I’ll be back.”
The Panthers held a walkthrough practice Wednesday, so their injury report was based off projected status. That said, wide receivers Jalen Coker (quadriceps) and Xavier Legette (knee) were listed as nonparticipants.
Canales said Coker is considered day to day, while Legette is more week to week. Legette missed Sunday's game.
Guard Damien Lewis is expected to miss the game with an elbow injury but should be ready to return after the bye. Also, right tackle Monroe Freeling was in the concussion protocol but Canales is hopeful he can return to practice Thursday.
Bryce Young was a full participant at practice and is expected to play against the Lions after sustaining a minor knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Browns.
“He was able to finish the game,” Canales said. “It got sore on him, so he is getting a lot of treatment. But he was able to get out there. ... I'm really confident that he will be good to go.”
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