Panthers Plan to Go Back to Basics in Order to Boost Defense

After another injury-riddled 2023 campaign, Jaycee Horn is changing his approach to preparation.

The Carolina Panthers picked up Horn’s fifth-year option, giving the cornerback another shot to live up to his projected first-round talent.

He recently said he still has the talent to be one of the best defensive backs in the league. And to get there, he is venturing back to how he used to train while in college.
“Through my program this offseason I did more weightlifting,” Horn said. “Trying to kind of get back to the college program to where I’m just lifting heavy and build my body back up and reset everything, so we’ll see how it goes. Just trying different things. Obviously what I did in the years before didn’t work, but it could be some unluckyness. Just trying to switch something up and start from ground zero and build my body back up.”
Horn is desperate for a healthy season. Since being drafted in 2021, he has appeared in 22 games. The most games he’s played in his career came in 2022, logging 13. It isn’t a surprise that when healthy for most of the year, he produced his best statistical season: 53 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended.
When healthy, Horn has been a difference maker. If he can prove that he can stay healthy while backing it up with quality production, Carolina’s cornerback position will be in a far better spot.