Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn was involved in a car accident on Wednesday morning, August 6, 2025, while on his way to the team facility. According to team officials, Horn sustained no serious injuries but will not participate in today’s practice out of an abundance of caution. The accident occurred during the early morning hours and is currently under review by local authorities.
The Panthers organization released a brief statement acknowledging the incident, confirming Horn’s involvement and emphasizing that the young defensive back is “in good spirits” and being monitored by the team’s medical staff. The team added that while initial evaluations have not indicated any major injuries, they are proceeding conservatively to ensure Horn’s long-term health and safety.
“Jaycee was involved in a traffic accident on his way to the facility this morning,” said head coach Dave Canales in a post-practice media session. “Thankfully, he seems to be doing okay, but we’re going to hold him out of today’s session just to make sure everything checks out. He’s a key piece of our defense, and we’re not going to take any risks.”
Jaycee Horn, 25, is entering his fourth season with the Panthers after being selected eighth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of South Carolina. Known for his physical play, athleticism, and football IQ, Horn has quickly established himself as one of the league’s top young cornerbacks when healthy. However, his career thus far has been hampered by a series of injuries, including hamstring and foot issues that have limited his availability over the past two seasons.
This latest incident adds another moment of uncertainty, though team insiders remain optimistic that Horn’s absence will be temporary and precautionary. As of now, there is no indication that he will miss significant time or preseason action. The team has not yet confirmed whether additional tests—such as MRIs or X-rays—will be conducted.
Teammates expressed relief that Horn avoided serious injury, many noting how easily a routine commute can turn dangerous.
“Man, it just reminds you how fragile everything is,” said Panthers safety Xavier Woods. “Jaycee’s one of our leaders out there. We’re just glad he’s alright. Football’s important, but his well-being comes first.”
Horn had been having a strong start to training camp prior to the accident, frequently lining up against the team’s top receivers and displaying the kind of lockdown coverage that made him a first-round pick. The Panthers defense, under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, is expected to lean heavily on Horn’s ability to shadow elite receivers and set the tone in the secondary.
As Horn takes the day to rest and recover, second-year cornerbacks D’Shawn Jamison and Chau Smith-Wade saw increased reps with the first-team defense. Coaches emphasized that this is a valuable opportunity for younger players to get meaningful snaps, but the hope remains that Horn will return to practice as soon as he’s cleared medically.
“We’re going to continue to monitor him,” Coach Canales reiterated. “We’ll know more in the next day or so, but right now, we’re just grateful the accident wasn’t worse.”
The Panthers are slated to play their first preseason game next week, and the coaching staff has made no indication of whether Horn’s status for that game will be affected. The team will likely provide further updates on his condition and availability during Thursday’s press briefing.
In the meantime, the Panthers—and fans across the league—are breathing a sigh of relief that one of the NFL’s rising stars avoided a potentially serious outcome.
