Carolina Panthers star cornerback Jaycee Horn was involved in a car accident on his way to the stadium, sustaining minor injuries that require stitches to his thumb. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed the incident, which occurred outside the stadium, and stated Horn will miss the team’s first preseason game. Horn, who has a history of injury-related absences and is one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL, is expected to return for the second preseason game against the Houston Texans.
The incident took place on Wednesday, at an intersection just outside the stadium. Horn, 25, was alone in his car when the accident occurred, according to a team spokesperson. No emergency medical personnel were involved in the incident, and Horn was evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Canales expressed relief that Horn was unharmed, stating, “I’m glad that Jaycee was OK. He did have to have a few stitches in his left thumb-area. So they got that all cleaned up and sutured up. . . . It doesn’t seem like anything else happened, but you know we’re just gonna kind of evaluate him each day.”
Horn did not participate in the team’s joint practice with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday and will also not play the Panthers’ preseason game versus the Browns on Friday. Canales expressed hope that Horn will be fit to play in the upcoming game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 16. “Hopefully we can get him turned around so we can take advantage of an opportunity in Houston for that game, which was kind of the plan all along,” Canales said.
Horn, who made the Pro Bowl last season, has been a key player for the Panthers since being selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. Despite his impact on the team, Horn has faced recurring injury issues throughout his career. He has played in only 37 of a possible 68 regular-season games in his four-year career, which has raised questions about his durability. Nevertheless, the Panthers signed him to a four-year, $100 million contract in March, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. This latest setback may impact the team’s preseason preparations, but the organization remains optimistic about his recovery timeline.
While the Panthers have not officially commented on the accident, Fox News Digital noted that the team reached out to Horn’s agent for comment but has not received a response yet. The incident is now part of a larger discussion about player safety and the high-stakes environment of professional sports, where even minor incidents can have significant consequences. The Panthers are now focusing on their training camp schedule and preparing for the upcoming regular season, hoping that Horn will make a full recovery in time for the team’s critical games.