This is not good.
The Carolina Panthers announced bad news on Tuesday.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn and right tackle Taylor Moton were placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Horn recently suffered a cut on his foot while running that required stitches and he's expected to return early during training camp.
Meanwhile, Moton was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in late June. He was immediately placed on blood thinners and is responding well to treatment and is being assessed daily by the team's medical staff.
The treatment will cause Moton to miss regular-season time, but he's expected to return during the season.
The Panthers signed veteran left tackle Rasheed Walker in free agency as cover for the injured Ikem Ekwonu and used their first-round pick on Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling.
Carolina opens the 2026 season against the Chicago Bears. The Panthers and Bears made the playoffs last season. Both teams lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams beat the Panthers in the wild-card round and defeated the Bears in the divisional round.
Even though the Panthers won the NFC South title last season, they finished with a sub-.500 record and needed help in Week 18 to win the division. Dave Canales and Co. must prove next season that they didn't just benefit from playing in the league's weakest division.
It will be fascinating to see how Carolina does in 2026. The team will no longer fly under the radar after making the playoffs last season.
Last season, QB Bryce Young finished with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
The first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
Young is set to make $12.1 million next season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
Most NFL insiders don't expect the Panthers to sign Young to an extension this offseason since the QB has been too inconsistent. Young has to play well again next season to earn an extension.
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