4 Panthers players that must perform at the Seahawks in Week 14
By Dean Jones
Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers CB
The debate surrounding who the Carolina Panthers should have taken at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft shows no signs of slowing down. But that should not detract from an exceptional season cornerback Jaycee Horn is putting together.
Horn made his triumphant return from a broken foot that restricted him to three games as a rookie. It’s clear the former South Carolina standout was eager to make up for some lost time, locking down almost everyone in his path and enhancing his claims to be considered among the elite players at the position.
This weekend represents a significant test for Horn, who’ll be tasked with keeping D.K. Metcalf quiet. A situation could also emerge where the corner is forced to shadow the physically-imposing wide receiver given Carolina’s relative lack of depth, which will be a must-see on the day.
Asking someone like C.J. Henderson or Keith Taylor Jr. to go up against Metcalf is asking for trouble. Horn will likely relish such a challenge and a top performance versus one of the league’s best wideouts would be another huge feather in his cap.
The Panthers are extremely fortunate to have Horn. He is a tone setter that can shut down one side of the field when in the mood, which is exactly what defensive coordinator Al Holcomb is looking for in such an intimidating environment.