Panthers’ Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson create chemistry

DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins Oct. 13, 2024 at Bank of america Stadium. Horn is fourth among defensive backs with a 45.8 completion rate.

Positioned in the middle of three fields at the Carolina Panthers’ practice facility, cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson opened the practice week by working on coverage basics with assistant defensive backs coach DeAngelo Hall.

The duo backpedaled and sprinted side-to-side, while watching for Hall, a 14-year NFL veteran, to motion where they should pivot. Horn, who is positioning himself for a big offseason payday, generally went first, followed by Jackson, who is establishing himself as a productive CB2 since August’s trade from Pittsburgh.

Carolina struggled mightily over the first two months, surrendering 271 points during a 1-7 start. The defense tried a reset by getting back to basics. That’s about when Horn and Jackson started flashing chemistry, aiding the Panthers’ two-game winning streak.

Against New Orleans on Nov. 3, Jackson defended a pass intended for receiver Cedrick Wilson on fourth-down with 1:09 left to preserve a 23-22 win that snapped a five-game losing streak.
A week later, Horn collected eight tackles and broke up a pass in their 20-17 overtime win over the New York Giants.

“I love where the guys are at right now in terms of formation identification, playing their leverage, being disciplined about being where they are supposed to be and playing the ball,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.
With the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs coming to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, the Panthers’ secondary will be challenged. Will they be up for it?

Panthers defense to be tested by Chiefs

Carolina enters Sunday’s game on the fringe of playoff elimination before Thanksgiving. The Chiefs (9-1) have a half-game lead over Buffalo for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Could the Chiefs overlook the Panthers?

Not according to Mahomes. Last season’s Super Bowl MVP promised after the Bills broke up the Chiefs’ unbeaten campaign that the Panthers will have their attention.

“You can use it as fuel,” Mahomes said, as reported by The Associated Press. “So, we’ll get back to work and try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end.”

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said the Panthers need energy from Horn (calf), who was a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice.

“He is on schedule to play,” Evero said.

Horn is playing on a team-invoked fifth-year option, but the former South Carolina standout wants a long-term deal. He appears to be earning his money through 10 games with 44 tackles, 10 passes defended and an interception. Horn has surrendered 22 catches on 48 targets for 289 yards. His 45.8 allowed completion percentage ranks fourth in the league. Following Week 9, Horn paced the NFL in that category, unbeknownst to him.

“I really don't even think about it,” Horn said Monday, the team’s first day back from a bye week. “I’ll just be out there playing. And then I see somebody like tag me in something and tell me, I didn't know I had the lowest (percentage) at one point until the Panthers tagged me.”

‘That makes football fun’

After losing defensive lynchpins Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson over the first four weeks, the Panthers’ defensive depth was tested early. They generally failed through Week 8, surrendering an average of 33.8 points per game. During the small sample size of a win streak, they yielded 19.5.

“I feel like on our best days we’re just a tough, physical defense, running around, having fun,” Horn said. “That makes football fun when that’s the personality of the defense and every guy takes on that mantra to just go out there, let go, have fun and play loose.

“I feel like we've been doing that the last couple of weeks, and we've got to keep it going."

Can they against the Chiefs?

Facing the Saints without three of their top wide receivers and the Giants with a mostly ineffective – and now released – quarterback Daniel Jones proved significant.
But facing Mahomes and Co. likely will be completely different.

“(Mahomes) is one of the best players in our league,” Evero said. “He has no weakness to his game.”

Cornerback chemistry could help.

Maiden native Caleb Farley, who was elevated to the Panthers’ 53-man roster Monday from the practice squad the past three games, could play a factor Sunday if Horn re-aggravates his calf muscle. To prepare, the 2021 No. 22 overall draft pick by the Tennessee Titans has been studying Horn and Jackson’s preparation practices.  

“They’re smart,” Farley said. "I love picking their heads and seeing how they think about things.”

Jackson heard Mahomes had extra “fuel” to motivate him following the Chiefs’ first loss. He didn’t sound overly concerned.

“It’ll be him,” Jackson said. “It ain’t going to be any different. It’ll still be him. We just have to go out there and play football.”

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