EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Carolina Panthers will be without their starting cornerback duo for at least the next four games as they placed Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin) on injured reserve Wednesday after both were injured in the Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.While Horn was expected to go on IR with what coach Dave Canales called a "significant" quad injury, Jackson's status had been open-ended. Jackson led the NFL with 19 pass breakups last season, and he and Horn combined for nine interceptions in 2025 as one of the most effective cornerback duos in the league.Horn, who is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl honors, was seeking a second opinion on his injury when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that he sustained a torn quad during the game-winning touchdown by the Browns. Jackson left Sunday's loss in the first half after falling awkward on a play that saw him get penalized in coverage.The Panthers will need to rely on 2026 fourth-round pick Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade and special teams ace Akayleb Evans with Horn and Jackson out of the mix. The team signed veteran Robert Rochell to the practice squad Wednesday. Corey Thornton, Zion Childress and undrafted rookie DeVonta Smith are also on the practice roster.Canales, in addressing Horn's injury Monday, said replacing his top cornerback isn't possible, but now he will need to find replacements for both his starting boundary cover men."There's no replacing Jaycee Horn," Canales said. "He has had such an amazing offseason training camp, in season, just the energy, the preparation, all the different things. [He] has been amazing, has been really beautiful, so there's no replacing that. We're not asking our guys to replace Jaycee. We're just asking them to do their job."Along with the ailments at cornerback, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Rapoport on Tuesday that starting left guard Damien Lewis will be sidelined for a few weeks with an ulnar collateral ligament injury in an elbow. The Panthers are also monitoring injuries for starting quarterback Bryce Young (lower body), wide receivers Jalen Coker (quad) and Xavier Legette, safety Nick Scott (rib), and inside linebacker Devin Lloyd (calf).With Coker and Legette questionable entering the week of work, the Panthers promoted veteran wide receiver David Moore from the practice squad. They also promoted running back Anthony Tyus III from the practice roster after he made his NFL debut against the Browns. Tyus will effectively slot into the third running back spot behind Chuba Hubbard and AJ Dillon with Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve.Carolina hosts the Detroit Lions on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 4 before its bye week.Following the bye, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (PUP/patellar tendon), right tackle Taylor Moton (NFI/blood clot), defensive end Tershawn Wharton (PUP/neck), running back Trevor Etienne (IR/ankle), guard Brady Christensen (IR/hamstring) and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott (IR/hamstring) will be eligible to return to action.
