Jimmy Horn Jr. probably wasn't expecting to be waived by the Carolina Panthers just one game into the 2026 campaign. But despite head coach Dave Canales' intent to bring him back to the practice squad, an old Colorado connection had other ideas.
And this somewhat surprising development has Deion Sanders' fingerprints all over it.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Horn is now signing with the Cleveland Browns after clearing waivers. This reunites the wide receiver with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and it comes just hours after his former college coach revealed he was making calls for the player.
Carolina Panthers wanted Jimmy Horn Jr. back, but Deion Sanders had other ideas
Horn muffed a punt against the Chicago Bears, and that was enough for the Panthers to remove the wide receiver from their equation. Canales wanted him back, but the 2025 sixth-round pick didn't echo that sentiment.
He no doubt feels stung, though Canales stated that he had a good conversation with Horn about where things stand and what the next steps are. At the same time, seeking counsel from Sanders spoke volumes.
In all honesty, it was probably over between Carolina and Horn from the moment Sanders got involved.
The Browns were probably his first call. A glowing reference or two later, and Horn is getting his shot with the AFC North club. And it just so happens that the Panthers travel to Cleveland in Week 3.
Jimmy Horn Jr. and the Carolina Panthers face a quick reunion after practice squad snub
Sanders wasted no time in fighting Horn's corner. It's not hard to see why.
“I made some calls immediately. I love Jimmy. Jimmy’s a great kid. I’m not questioning management because I’m not there, but this kid is a great human being … We give our kids car deals and all of that, right? … There’s only one guy who ever turned their car back in, cleaned, with a tank full of gas: Jimmy Horn. That says a lot about who he is…If you just wanted to get rid of him, it wasn’t about character."
Horn's roster spot was required to strengthen the linebacking corps, with Tyrel Dodson being signed to the active roster after just a few days on the practice squad. That's the nature of the business, but Horn didn't fancy sticking around on the off-chance Carolina gave him another shot on the active roster.
A new opportunity now beckons. It may even signal that Shedeur Sanders could be starting soon, as Deshaun Watson continues to be a shell of his old self.
These things happen. Would the Panthers have liked Horn to return to the practice squad and keep developing? Absolutely, but it's not exactly an earth-shattering loss either.
Horn's snub indicated that he wanted a fresh start. He wanted to be somewhere where he felt loved, and linking back up with his former college quarterback in Cleveland was too good an opportunity to turn down.
After working exceptionally hard to make the 53-man roster this summer, Horn was only one major blunder away from being made surplus to requirements. And whether the Panthers wanted to bring him back or not, if the wideout was an important part of the team's plans, they wouldn't have cut him loose.
It's that simple, really.
Now, the objective changes for Horn. His immediate focus turns to picking things up quickly to potentially feature against the team that drafted him. And if he does, it will add a little extra spice to an otherwise dull-looking contest.
Let's see how things work out.
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