Panthers’ latest injuries suffered in Week 3 loss could expose a depth issue at a key defensive position
The Carolina Panthers suffered multiple injuries during Sunday’s game, but losing both starting cornerbacks is a situation the team might be forced to address in some capacity later this week.
The Carolina Panthers suffered more than just a loss against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after having multiple players go down with injuries throughout the game. Thankfully, most of them don’t seem to be serious.
However, there are two injuries that are concerning for the team coming out of Week 3, involving both of the team’s starting cornerbacks. Veteran Mike Jackson left early in the game and was later ruled out with a groin injury, head coach Dave Canales said after the game that it’s something the team will have to take a look at this week.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn also went down with a quad injury that seems more serious. Canales noted the team won’t know the extent of it until this week, but they know he was “nowhere close” to coming back into the game.
Jackson and Horn are one of the top cornerback duos in the league and how this scheme is build coverage-wise is based on having those two in the secondary. We’ll see how they look later this week, but if they’re forced to miss extended time, it’ll leave this defense short-handed at the position.
What options do the Panthers have in the building at corner?
After Jackson went down, rookie Will Lee III got a lot of work in on Sunday playing 91 percent of the defensive snaps. The rookie was targeted a team-high seven times allowing four receptions for 35 yards and nearly had a diving interception early in the game. Lee has played the second-most coverage snaps among the corners in Carolina, only behind Horn. He’s the first option the team would turn to as a potential starter on the outside.
As the game went on, Akayleb Evans saw more action playing a total of 30 defensive snaps. He allowed one reception for four yards on two targets and should have had the game-winning interception if not for a roughing the passer flag that called the play back. His 81.6 coverage grade leads all Carolina cornerbacks this season but he hasn’t been tested yet like he would be if he’s called on to start.
Besides those two, the rest of Carolina’s cornerback room consists of Chau Smith-Wade on the active roster with Corey Thornton, DeVonta Smith, and Zion Childress on the practice squad. Thornton would be an obvious elevation candidate for Week 4 if Horn and/or Jackson don’t play after playing 12 games for the Panthers last season.
Ideally, the Panthers get better news than expected on Horn and Jackson’s status, especially going into a primetime game against a Detroit Lions offense that has scored exactly 31 points in all three games this season.
What external options are potentially out there?
The first name every fan is going to bring up is Joey Porter Jr. the former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers who is moments away from being traded it seems like. However, three teams were already linked to Porter in the NFC over the weekend that have checked in on his availability. It would be a pricey move to acquire him, plus paying him the kind of contract he’s looking for.
A more logical name to watch is free agent Robert Rochell, who played four games for the Panthers last season and was here during training camp before being waived back in August.
Unless Horn and/or Jackson’s injuries are serious enough to warrant them landing on the injured reserve, I don’t see a major splash addition in the works. So, we’ll just have to see how things look later in the week and if Canales provides any updates later today.
