Dave Canales has spent the week coaching a Carolina Panthers roster that keeps getting smaller. Cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both went on injured reserve Wednesday, and two more starters were ruled out for Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Lions.
The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported that the injuries have not changed how the third-year head coach runs the building. One source told Jones that Canales has led each day with the same energy as always and kept the mood up around the team. A second source said staying consistent with his process, vision and goals is important to him.
Panthers’ injury list goes well beyond cornerback
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The list is long. Guard Damien Lewis (elbow) and receiver Xavier Legette (knee) are out, and receiver Jalen Coker (quad) and tackle Monroe Freeling (concussion) are questionable. Running back Jonathon Brooks, offensive lineman Brady Christensen, rookie receiver Chris Brazzell and pass rusher Nic Scourton were already on injured reserve. Tackles Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu have not played this season.
Cornerback is the position that took the biggest hit. Horn was hurt in the second half against the Browns, and Jackson left in the first half. Canales described Horn’s quad injury as significant and said, “There’s no replacing Jaycee Horn.” Jackson had surgery on his groin and expects to miss six to eight weeks. Rookie fourth-round pick Will Lee III and Akayleb Evans are expected to start outside, with Chau Smith-Wade at nickel.
“It’s their time to shine, so they just got to go show the world who it is,” Jackson told the team’s website. As for the plan against Detroit, Jones reported that Carolina will lean on its core philosophies and principles while “mixing it the right way” with so many reserves on the field. The offense will have to carry more of the load, and Bryce Young leads the NFL with 939 passing yards through three games.
The Panthers are 1-2 after a 21-18 loss to Cleveland, and Sunday is the first “Sunday Night Football” game in Charlotte since the Super Bowl run 11 years ago. Detroit comes in 2-1. Jones wrote that the Panthers know the Lions will not feel sorry for them.
