The Carolina Panthers will be without their starting cornerback duo for at least the next four games as they placed Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin) on injured reserve Wednesday after both were injured in the Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns. While Horn was expected to go on IR with what coach Dave Canales called a "significant" quad injury, Jackson's status had been open-ended. Jackson led the NFL with 19 pass breakups last season, and he and Horn combined for nine interceptions in 2025 as one of the most effective cornerback duos in the league.

The Panthers will need to rely on 2026 fourth-round pick Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade and special teams ace Akayleb Evans with Horn and Jackson out of the mix. The team signed veteran Robert Rochell to the practice squad Wednesday. "There's no replacing Jaycee Horn," Canales said. "We're not asking our guys to replace Jaycee. We're just asking them to do their job."

Along with the ailments at cornerback, sources told NFL Network that starting left guard Damien Lewis will be sidelined for a few weeks with an ulnar collateral ligament injury. The Panthers are also monitoring injuries for starting quarterback Bryce Young (lower body), wide receivers Jalen Coker (quad) and Xavier Legette (knee), safety Nick Scott (rib), and inside linebacker Devin Lloyd (calf). With Coker and Legette questionable, the team promoted veteran wide receiver David Moore and running back Anthony Tyus III from the practice squad.

Carolina hosts the Detroit Lions on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 4 before its bye week. Following the bye, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive end Tershawn Wharton, running back Trevor Etienne, guard Brady Christensen and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott will be eligible to return.