Panthers notebook: CB Jaycee Horn on the mend, Baker Mayfield running with second team

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn wore a beanie on his head as he stretched inside the team’s practice bubble on Wednesday. However, his hat wasn’t the attire that mattered as the Panthers prepared for their Week 8 game with the Atlanta Falcons.

After missing consecutive games with an injury to his ribs, Horn came to practice fully dressed to work out in pads and a helmet.

The Panthers’ top cornerback had watched from the sideline as Carolina shut down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. And while that showing was promising, his team would have preferred to have had last year’s first-round pick on the field.

On Monday, interim head coach Steve Wilks noted that Horn missed the 21-3 win over the Buccaneers because the player said needed an extra week.

With the Panthers flipping the page on Week 7, Horn now looks to be on the mend for this weekend’s matchup.

Horn was a limited participant to start the week.

“Well, he looked good today,” Wilks said. “And even last week, I thought he was progressing, but for whatever reason, he didn’t feel like he could go, so hopefully we can get over the hump this week.”

Horn has played in just eight regular-season games during his NFL career, as he missed all but three games during his rookie season because of a foot fracture.

The 22-year-old is looking to establish himself as one of the league’s top corners, but in order to do that he needs to be on the field.

Wilks, who previously served as the secondary coach and passing game coordinator, is looking forward to seeing Horn back in the lineup for the first time since the interim head coach took over for Matt Rhule.

Horn is in the same boat.

“I’m just looking forward to going out there and competing,” Horn said. “After missing the last two weeks, going out there and helping the team win.”

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Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold wear pads, too

Former starting quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (ankle) and Sam Darnold (ankle) both wore red jerseys over shoulder pads during the first practice of the week.

The injured quarterback duo was joined by PJ Walker — who is slated to start a third consecutive game this weekend — and practice-squad signal-caller Jacob Eason.

Over the past two weeks, Walker and Eason have been dressed for games. But with Mayfield and Darnold slowly making their way back from high ankle sprains, that outlook will change.

Wilks said Mayfield will be ready to suit up Sunday.

“Baker looked good today, he rolled with the twos,” Wilks said. “He did a lot of scout team work, and then PJ took all the reps with the ones.”

Darnold, who is still on injured reserve, has two weeks to be activated to the 53-man roster. He has made progress during the early workouts of his 21-day practice window, but Wilks has remained coy about his status for Week 8.

“He’s doing well,” Wilks said about Darnold. “He was on scout team, as well. Those guys did a good job in the individual period, but Baker took most of the scout team reps.”

Mayfield was not listed on injury report to begin the week, while Darnold didn’t receive a status update because of his status on injured reserve.

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Chuba Hubbard sidelined, three others out with illness

During the open media portion of practice on Wednesday, running back Chuba Hubbard (ankle) was seen wearing a noncontact red jersey. He worked on a stationary bike as his teammates stretched within the practice bubble. Following practice, he was listed as a nonparticipant.

With Hubbard potentially sidelined for the week ahead, the Panthers will need to rely on D’Onta Foreman and Raheem Blackshear at running back. Foreman ran for 118 yards against the Buccaneers, while Hubbard contributed to the ground attack with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown in the blowout win.

If Hubbard can’t go, Foreman will probably make his first start of the season and Blackshear will see an increased workload.

Spencer Brown, who was just re-signed to the practice squad last week, could also be elevated to provide depth behind Foreman and Blackshear if Hubbard is held out.

Along with Hubbard, defensive end Marquis Haynes (illness), offensive tackle Taylor Moton (illness), defensive tackle Dayvion Nixon (illness) and guard Michael Jordan (personal) were also held out of practice.

Wilks said Moton, Haynes and Nixon all passed COVID-19 tests, but the team wanted to take precautions with their illnesses.

Horn, fellow cornerbacks Donte Jackson (ankle) and Myles Hartsfield (hamstring), linebackers Frankie Luvu (shoulder), Aaron Mosby (hamstring) and Cory Littleton (groin), safety Sean Chandler (hamstring) and wideout Laviska Shenault (hamstring) were listed as limited participants.

The Panthers will release their final injury report on Friday, which could lead to some more roster shuffling for GM Scott Fitterer and company this weekend.

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Pat Elflein set for surgery

Bradley Bozeman’s impressive starting debut against the Buccaneers is likely to lead to a long-term stint as the Panthers’ top center.

Wilks said Wednesday that former starting center Pat Elflein will undergo hip surgery and be shut down for the rest of the campaign on injured reserve.

Elflein started the first six games of the season before injuring his hip in the Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He was placed on IR this past Saturday.

Bozeman took over for Elflein, and he was a major standout during the Panthers’ blowout win in Week 7. Wilks feels very comfortable with the fill-in starter moving forward.

“Bozeman is a guy that communicates well,” Wilks said. “ID’s the MIKE, let’s everybody else understand and know exactly what we are doing in the protection — so I love his leadership.”