Jimmy Horn Jr. had a solid summer with the Carolina Panthers. The 2025 draft pick didn’t contribute much as a rookie, but it looked like he was taking a step forward in 2026.
Horn ended up making the final roster over Ja’seem Reed, David Moore, and others, mostly because he theoretically offers more on special teams. Well, Horn got a chance on special teams in Week 1 and had a massive blunder.
The game was tied at 21, and Horn muffed a punt, which led to points for the Bears. As we know, the Bears ended up running away with the game, but that muffed punt was a major turning point.
The Panthers apparently saw enough and decided to waive Horn on Tuesday. Primary return man Trevor Etienne can’t come back until Week 5 at the earliest, though, so what’s the plan going forward?
John Metchie III Listed as Return Man on New Depth Chart
The Panthers updated the depth chart after the Horn news, and John Metchie III is now listed as the primary return man.
Metchie didn’t see any snaps in Week 1, but he did return four kicks and one punt in the preseason. Metchie averaged 27.8 yards per kick return and returned the one punt eight yards. In 2025, Metchie got the chance to return eight kicks for the Eagles during the regular season, and he averaged 17.1 yards per return.
It’ll be interesting to see how Metchie handles his new duties. This is a great opportunity for the former second-round pick, as he’s never been able to impress much as a receiver. If Metchie can prove to be a valuable special teamer, that could be the best way for him to stick around for a while.
On the flip side, if Metchie struggles, the Panthers could move on from him as soon as Etienne is healthy. Being on injured reserve, Etienne has to miss the first four games. Once the running back comes back, Metchie could be on the chopping block.
