The Carolina Panthers are once again searching for answers following a 42-13 mauling at the hands of the New England Patriots. Once again, the Panthers‘ offense was lackluster and failed to sustain drives. The lack of depth for the Panthers at the wide receiver position has been rearing its ugly head.
Before the season started, the Panthers traded away veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings, and promising second-year receiver Jalen Coker was placed on the IR with a quad injury. This left the Panthers thin and inexperienced at wide receiver, and this has become evident in each of their losses.
2025 first-round draft pick Tetairoa McMillan has done well for himself to start the season. Still, last year’s first-round draft pick, Xavier Legette, has continued to disappoint, resulting in his inactivity against the Patriots. Now that David Moore is on the IR, the door has opened for Jimmy Horn Jr to get his shot.
Horn Jr Impressed in Training Camp
Jimmy Horn Jr was a sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Colorado. Coming into training camp, a spot on the Panthers’ roster was anything but guaranteed to him. Horn had to work hard and impress the coaches to make the team, and that is precisely what Horn proceeded to do.
Horn showed his toughness and work ethic throughout the summer, which caught the eye of head coach Dave Canales. Canales discussed Horn’s impressive training camp performance in the August 3 article for Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com.
“I think it’s the energy he plays with,” said coach Dave Canales. “He doesn’t quit on routes, he continues after the normal part of the protection he can count on, he continues to find space and play fast, and, it’s a credit to his fitness, but it’s also a credit to just the energy that he puts out there, that you want to throw to him.”
Horn’s relentless work ethic has now put him in a position to see the field in a regular-season game, finally.
Horn Jr is a “Dawg”
Jimmy Horn Jr. has been receiving praise not only from his coaches but also from his teammates, who witness his efforts in practice and the facility every day.
Horn and his fellow rookie wide receiver, Tetairoa McMillan, both have different circumstances, with McMillan being a first-round pick and Horn a sixth-round pick. Still, they both share a drive to improve constantly.
Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com, in her October 2 article, wrote about McMillan being excited for Horn to showcase his abilities on Sunday.
“I feel like we all specialize in different things. Obviously, everybody knows his potential,” said fellow rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan of what Horn brings. “He’s fast, crafty, good route runner, but I feel like he’s got that dawg in him, so you know, he’s really just been waiting his turn, and he has a chance to go out there Sunday and show off his talents.”
Horn will have his chance to prove he can hang in the NFL when the Panthers face the Miami Dolphins and their 20th-ranked pass defense.
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