The Carolina Panthers are expected to be without both starting cornerbacks entering Sunday night’s primetime home game against Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions’ high-powered offense.
asserted
Panthers → expect → Goff
The two-time Pro Bowl selection Jaycee Horn suffered what coach Dave Canales called a “significant quad injury” in the second half of a 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, while Mike Jackson left in the first half with a groin injury and did not return.
asserted
Jackson → suffer → injury
Canales wouldn’t confirm a report that Horn tore his quad muscle and will miss six to 12 weeks.
asserted
Horn → confirm → weeks
He told reporters on Monday that the team is seeking multiple medical opinions on Horn regarding the timeline of the injury.
asserted
team → tell → injury
However, the injury was significant enough for Horn to post a message on social media that read, “Injuries have held me back from reaching my full potential for too long, and that (stuff) hurts deep down to my core more than words could ever explain.”
uncertain
words → post → core
Horn went on to post, “I love this game.
asserted
I → go → game
I love my brothers.
asserted
I → love → brothers
And I’m not done.
asserted
I → do → ?
Horn is considered the secondary’s top defender.
asserted
Horn → consider → ?
He’s a huge part of coordinator Ejiro Evero’s weekly game plan because he’s asked to do so many different things.
asserted
he → ’ → things
“You can’t replace Jaycee Horn,” Canales said.
asserted
Canales → replace → Horn
Akayleb Evans and rookie Will Lee III are expected to start at cornerback moving forward, while Chau Smith-Wade would be the nickel back.
asserted
Wade → expect → cornerback
Evans had 15 starts for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, but has only two since.
asserted
Evans → have → two
The Panthers are dealing with other key injuries as well.
asserted
Panthers → deal → injuries
Wide receiver Jalen Coker, who was off to a fast start this season, left the Browns game with a quad injury after being listed as questionable coming in with an ankle injury.
asserted
who → leave → injury
Guard Damien Lewis injured his elbow and later left the game.
And, Bryce Young also appeared to tweak his foot against Cleveland, although he was able to remain in the game.
asserted
he → injure → game
Canales said Young will be evaluated this week as well, but that he expects him to play against the Lions.
asserted
him → say → Lions
Carolina came into the game plenty banged up.
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Carolina → come → game
That news came after the Panthers placed backup running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) and linebacker Claudin Cherelus (shoulder) on injured reserve last week.
asserted
Panthers → come → reserve
What’s working
With Brooks going down last week, Canales leaned heavily on Chuba Hubbard to carry the load in the backfield.
asserted
Canales → work → backfield
Hubbard responded with another solid game.
asserted
Hubbard → respond → game
He ran 19 times for 82 yards and caught four passes for 28 yards, although he failed to reach the end zone for the first time this season.
asserted
he → run → time
AJ Dillon, who stepped into the No. 2 spot at running back, only got four carries and played just 16% of the team’s offensive snaps.
asserted
who → step → snaps
However, he could see a bigger role moving forward as the Panthers look to spell Hubbard and keep him fresh.
uncertain
Panthers → see → him
What needs help
The Panthers continue to hurt themselves with penalties.
asserted
Panthers → need → penalties
On Sunday, linebacker Bobby Okereke was flagged for a game-changing penalty with 2:29 remaining when he delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on quarterback Deshaun Watson, nullifying Evans’ interception in the end zone that could have sealed a Carolina win.
uncertain
that → flag → win
Instead, Watson found Harold Fannin Jr. three plays later for the go-ahead touchdown.
“We extended the drive for them, and if you give a guy like Deshaun Watson a little bit of extra time, and a few more opportunities, he’s going to get creative and find something,” Canales said.
asserted
Canales → find → something
With Legette a game-time scratch and Coker leaving early, Brycen Tremayne stepped up Sunday with four catches for 83 yards, including a 31-yard catch along the left sideline.
asserted
Tremayne → leave → sideline
Tremayne has been looking for a role in Carolina’s offense for two years and this was a major step forward for him.
asserted
this → look → him
John Metchie, a teammate of Bryce Young’s at Alabama for two seasons, saw more time at wide receiver with Legette out and finished with two catches for 19 yards including a touchdown with 4:25 left that put Carolina ahead 18-13.
asserted
that → see → Carolina
The Panthers struggled on first downs on Sunday, repeatedly putting themselves in second-and-long situations against the Browns.
asserted
Panthers → struggle → Browns
Canales said that is an area the team will address this week in practice.
asserted
team → say → practice
Carolina came into the game fourth in the league in offense and second in scoring.
asserted
Carolina → come → scoring
Canales said the Panthers were set to have an organizational meeting on Monday with several department heads to discuss injury prevention, readiness and recovery following the recent spate of injuries.
asserted
Panthers → say → injuries
The Panthers have struggled to stay healthy since their arrival at training camp.
asserted
Panthers → struggle → camp
Edge rusher Nic Scourton and rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II were both lost to season-ending injuries before the preseason games began.
asserted
games → lose → injuries
If there is some bit of good news for the Panthers it’s that they have a bye in Week 5.
asserted
they → be → Week
Key number
Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has made all seven field-goal attempts this season.
asserted
Fitzgerald → make → attempts
Despite falling to 1-2 on the season, all is not lost for the Panthers as they remain tied with the Saints and Falcons for first place in the NFC South.
asserted
they → fall → South
The Aporia
