5 players the Carolina Panthers cannot afford to lose to injury in 2022
By Dean Jones
Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers CB
Losing Jaycee Horn so early in his rookie season was a devastating blow. Things weren’t quite the same on defense without him and although the Carolina Panthers acquired Stephon Gilmore via trade from the New England Patriots, he also dealt with some health problems and signed for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.
Horn looked like a shutdown cornerback from the moment he stepped onto the field in training camp. This transitioned well into a competitive setting before a broken foot in Week 3 at the Houston Texans sidelined him for the entire campaign.
According to reports from offseason workouts and the videos of Horn gearing up for the upcoming season, he’s back to full health and looks set to become an integral part of the team’s plans.
Carolina’s cornerback room looks particularly strong providing the likes of Keith Taylor and C.J. Henderson make the necessary improvements. But much will depend on whether the No. 8 overall selection in 2021 can put a consistent run of games together.
There’s nothing to suggest Horn isn’t capable of this and could even enter NFL Comeback Player of the Year contention when it’s all said and done.
However, if Horn was to miss a considerable portion of the season again, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe. That’s how important the South Carolina product is to the organization next season and into the future.