The Carolina Panthers will be without two of their top cornerbacks for the foreseeable future, but Mike Jackson Sr. is already finding ways to help the team cope.
Jackson underwent surgery for a groin injury he suffered against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3. He and two-time Pro Bowl corner Jaycee Horn, who tore his quad in the same game, were both placed on injured reserve and are expected to miss around eight weeks.
That leaves Carolina with a big secondary problem, but Jackson has given his replacement a head start by sharing the extensive scouting work he did on Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Mike Jackson Sr. is using his film study to help Carolina Panthers cope with Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jackson studied all 172 of St. Brown’s targets from the 2025 season and took handwritten notes on what he saw. Now, with his own campaign temporarily on hold, he is passing that information along to the younger cornerbacks who will have to help fill the void.
Now the notes will not suddenly make the matchup easy or anything.
St. Brown can win in a variety of ways, and the Panthers’ young cornerbacks will still have to execute against him in live game situations. But Jackson’s film study gives them specific tendencies and details to consider as they prepare.
With both Jackson and Horn unavailable for Ejiro Evero's defense until further notice, the Panthers will have to lean on their remaining cornerback options.
Fourth-round rookie Will Lee III and Akayleb Evans are among the players expected to take on expanded responsibilities, while Chau Smith-Wade is another young defensive back who can benefit from Jackson’s guidance.
Carolina Panthers' banged-up secondary faces a tall task against the Lions
Carolina has only three active cornerbacks on the roster right now, but Corey Thornton could be called up from the practice squad on Sunday Night Football.
The timing is far from ideal.
The Panthers are 1-2 and now face a Detroit offense that can put pressure on a secondary through its receiving talent. Losing two experienced cornerbacks in the same game leaves little room for the remaining players to ease into their assignments.
For now, Jackson is doing what he can from the sidelines.
The immediate test comes against Detroit. Even so, the bigger question will be how well the young cornerbacks handle their expanded roles while Jackson and Horn recover.
If they can hold up during their absence, Carolina could emerge from the next several weeks with a clearer picture of its depth at the position.
Jackson’s notes will not guarantee that outcome, but they give his teammates something concrete to work with before a demanding matchup.
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