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Jaycee Horn, the Carolina Panthers cornerback, recently sustained a hand injury in a car accident, requiring stitches.
The Carolina Panthers had a disappointing showing against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. In a game that could have shown the rest of the football world that they were for real as a team, the Panthers laid an egg. However, one player on the team still stood out above the rest.
Jaycee Horn on Monday introduced himself to a national audience that may not have been too familiar with him. The Panthers rarely get nationally televised games, and Horn showcased why he’s one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in football.
Horn in the game against the 49ers intercepted Brock Purdy two times in the first half before leaving the game in the second quarter due to a concussion. Some people may have had the revelation that Horn is great on Monday, but he already had the respect of players around the NFL.
McCaffrey’s High Praise
One former Panther, Christian McCaffrey, had high praise for Jaycee Horn ahead of the Panthers’ Monday night showdown against the 49ers. McCaffrey discussed how Horn is one of the cornerbacks he most respects in the league. Sports Anchor for WCCB-TV in Charlotte, Kelli Bartik, provided a video of McCaffrey discussing Horn’s work ethic.
“He doesn’t get enough credit,” McCaffrey said. “I think he’s one of the best corners that I’ve seen up close and in person. He’s another guy that has everything you could ever want in a corner, but my favorite thing about him is his mindset, and the energy and intensity it brings to the field.”
McCaffrey didn’t hold back in his first game against his old team, compiling 89 rushing yards and one touchdown to go along with seven receptions for 53 yards, showing that the two best players on the field that night might have been McCaffrey and Horn.
Horn’s Effort Wasted
The big theme of Monday night was the Panthers’ wasted opportunities. After Jaycee Horn’s first-quarter interception brought the ball immediately into the red zone, quarterback Bryce Young proceeded to throw an interception on the one-yard line on first and goal.
The first three interceptions by the Panthers’ defense didn’t result in a touchdown, and the team squandered opportunity after opportunity. Darin Gantt of Panthers.com wrote about head coach Dave Canales and his response to his team coming up small in his November 25 article.
“Missed opportunity, and there were a lot of moments like that, and that certainly was one of them,” Canales said of the first-quarter pick. “We just have to be able to carry our execution, regardless of where it’s at, what time it’s played, who the opponent is, we have to focus on those things and make sure that we come out of the game with good football.”
Canales then discussed how he felt his team constantly put themselves in bad situations, particularly on the offensive side.
“And I didn’t feel like we did collectively. There were spots where some really good football was played in areas, but certainly from an offensive standpoint, with the penalties, putting us into some bad situations on some first and 20s and things like that. It makes it harder, and so those are some of the things that we’re talking about,” Canales said. “And then just the basics of it, the blocking and throwing and catching. The things that we have to really come back to and improve.”
The Panthers’ next chance to show they can be a playoff team will come this Sunday against the NFC’s number one seed, the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, the team may be without its star cornerback Horn, who remains in concussion protocol.
Chad Gelfand Chad Gelfand is a journalist covering the NFL with focus on the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers for Heavy.com. Gelfand has over six years of writing experience.
Gelfand previously covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Last Word On Sports. He also has experience writing in the worlds of entertainment and wrestling.
Gelfand was an Entertainment writer for the List.com, and a contributor for Fansided’s wrestling website Daily DDT and The Wrestling Estate. Gelfand has also appeared multiple times as a guest on POST Wrestling’s “Bushby and Thompson’s Wrestling Adventure” podcast. More about Chad Gelfand
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