Latest Panthers injury updates on Christian McCaffrey, Jaycee Horn
The decisions have been made regarding the Carolina Panthers placing Christian McCaffrey and Jaycee Horn on injured reserve. Placing the players on injured reserve would require them to miss a minimum of three weeks. The Athletic’s Joe Person provided the latest updates of the injuries to the Panthers on Monday.
“Matt Rhule says Panthers will not put Christian McCaffrey on IR,” Person tweeted. “But Jaycee Horn will have surgery and go on IR. Still calling it potentially season ending.”
Both McCaffrey and Horn suffered their injuries for the Panthers on Thursday night against the Houston Texans.
McCaffrey suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday
McCaffrey not being placed on injured reserve means that the Panthers likely expect him to be able to return within the next three weeks. Instead of opening up another spot on the active roster by putting him on injured reserve, the Panthers decided to keep him active. McCaffrey suffered a strained hamstring on Thursday.
Before suffering his injury, McCaffrey had seven carries for 31 yards and two receptions for nine yards. McCaffrey tried to stutter to avoid a defender, but he instead hurt his hamstring and spent over 20 minutes in the injury tent. Last season, McCaffrey was plagued by shoulder, thigh, and ankle injuries and only played three games for the Panthers.
Coming into the third week of the season, McCaffrey led the NFL with 324 yards from scrimmage. Rookie Chuba Hubbard is in line for a bigger role while McCaffrey works his way back.
The Panthers have already worked to offset Horn’s loss
Horn suffered a serious foot injury on Thursday, where he broke multiple bones in his right foot. As he planted his foot while backpedaling on a play, he twisted it up and ended up breaking more than one bone. Horn’s recovery is expected to be around 2-3 months, which would have him possibly returning at the end of the season.
The Panthers acquired former first round cornerback CJ Henderson from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. Henderson should slide into Horn’s role immediately. Carolina also signed corner Rashaan Melvin to the active roster from the practice squad.
The Panthers are 3-0 and sit alone atop the NFC South division. Carolina has a relatively favorable upcoming schedule. The next five weeks include matchups with the Cowboys, Eagles, Vikings, Giants, and Falcons.