Panthers Waive Rookie Receiver Horn Jr. After Opening Week Loss

The Carolina Panthers have waived wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who was handling kickoff and punt return duties, after a costly mistake in the team's season-opening loss.

During the second quarter of the Panthers' 59-37 defeat to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Horn muffed a punt. This error allowed the Bears to gain possession and subsequently kick a field goal, giving them a 24-21 lead. Bears head coach Ben Johnson described the punt as a "banana ball," a technique employed by punter Tory Taylor to add extra spin and make the ball more difficult to handle.

Following Horn's release, the Panthers elevated linebacker Tyrel Dodson from their practice squad. Dodson had previously been waived by the Miami Dolphins before the cutdown deadline and spent two weeks on Carolina's practice squad.

Panthers coach Dave Canales acknowledged Horn's mistake as part of the team's broader struggles in the opening week. "Playing smart, that’s where we fell short," Canales stated Monday. "It was about executing our plan. It was about timely and costly penalties. Certainly, the turnovers, 17 points off of turnovers against a really good team, that’s not something that you can do to play the championship football that we need to play."

The Panthers now face the challenge of filling the void at punt and kickoff returner, especially with running back Trevor Etienne on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Wide receiver John Metchie III, one of five wideouts on the active roster, has some prior experience in these roles.

The Panthers are set to play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, marking their first NFC South division matchup of the season.