Dave Canales Provides Key Updates on Two Injured Panthers

The Carolina Panthers enter their Week 7 showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3-2 overall and holding first place in the NFC South. After a blowout loss in Week 1, Carolina has gone 3-1 with some nice wins, all over NFC opponents. 

The chance to extend their lead in the NFC South awaits and as the Panthers navigate through this season, they are doing so without a few key players. 

Among the injuries that the Panthers have are to their two starting defensive backs, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Both suffered injuries earlier in the season and have missed the past few games after being placed on injured reserve. The Panthers have responded with two wins since then, but it would be nice to get both back for the stretch run of the season. 

And it appears as if both are trending in the right direction. 

On Friday, head coach Dave Canales met the media and discussed the injuries to both. He had some positive news regarding their injuries. 

With Horn, Canales told the media that Horn is doing great and that the updates he's been receiving have him trending in the right direction. Now, there are no general deadlines for Horn but to hear that he's going the right way is a good thing. 

Canales also mentioned that Horn is itching to keep taking the next step in his recovery to join the Panthers. He didn't say what that next step was, however. 

As for Jackson, it was a similar update.

The head coach mentioned that Jackson is moving around and starting to pick up their speed, change of direction and things like that. One step in clearing the way to a return is doing the change-of-direction movements, allowing them to open up. 

The Panthers have gone through two games without either of the two, and they have just two more left before they can open up the practice window for either. The way Carolina has been playing without them, there is likely no rush for either to get back.

But as I mentioned above, if this team does want to make a run to the playoffs this season, getting them back will be key. That could be within the next few weeks, which would give Carolina a big boost. 

The Panthers and Buccaneers are set to meet in Week 7 with kickoff at 1 p.m. in Charlotte on Sunday.