A Carolina Panthers wide receiver is earning praise from head coach Dave Canales following the third preseason game of the year.
In just a few weeks, the Carolina Panthers will have to trim the roster down to 53 players, with some tough decisions ahead. There's just one more week of the preseason as the Panthers will host the Houston Texans, providing one last chance for those on the roster bubble.
Among those players is wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.
He's among the players fighting for a roster spot as there are a group of players who are trying to take a spot or two. Horn Jr. has had a solid offseason so far to even put himself in that conversation. But after Friday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, he earned some praise from his head coach.
"Every single game we show up, he looks fast," Canales told reporters of Horn. "He had the nice around today. Had a nice catch down the field and had a 30-yard kick return at one point, too.
"Jimmy's making a really strong case for himself in terms of helping our team. And I'm excited to see him—especially just continue to grow in our concepts where the guys trust him, they know he's gonna be available and that's what he's doing."
The key in that is the 30-yard kick return. For guys trying to make the roster, impressing on special teams is the fastest way to earn your spot. Horn has the ability to do that and it showed on Saturday night.
Horn spoke on his return after the game.
"It feel real good," he stated. "I'm doing something right, and just being consistent."
Although he had just one catch, it went for 15 yards and he only had two targets total in the game. The former sixth-round pick in 2025 found himself in a similar spot last season, earning his place on the 53-man roster. He finished with 11 receptions for 108 yards and zero touchdowns.
With just one preseason game to go, all eyes will be on Horn and the wide receiver battle that the Panthers have. It will be one of the biggest decisions for the roster in terms of the offensive side of the football.
