Lions’ opponent Carolina loses pair of CBs
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 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.
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.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, right, talks with fellow cornerback Mike Jackson after playing the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP file photo)
Young expects to play
Starting quarterback 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.”