CHARLOTTE — Since the Panthers don't have the playoffs to play for this weekend, they're not going to risk one of their building blocks for the future against the Saints.
The Panthers placed cornerback Jaycee Horn on injured reserve Monday, ending his season.
Horn had wrist surgery last Tuesday to repair the damage from an injury sustained against the Lions, and there was at least a small chance he could have played this week. They weren't committed to playing him and only would have if the doctors cleared him. But with a postseason possibility off the table, there was no point in risking it.
The move gives them another open roster spot heading into the final week, as they were at 52 heading into Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers.
Horn, their 2021 first-round pick, had three interceptions in 13 games this year, with seven passes defensed. He earned Pro Bowl alternate honors recently, as he's quickly becoming known as one of the top young cover players in the game.
View the best in-game photos from Carolina's Week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on New Years Day.
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
WR - 15 - Laviska Shenault Jr.
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble
WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.
WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.
WR - 82 - Tommy Tremble
T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 42 - Sam Franklin
S - 42 - Sam Franklin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady passes during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Panthers running back D'Onta Foreman is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Nelson during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin runs during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Panthers cornerback CJ Henderson breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is sacked by Carolina Panthers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
DE - 97 - Yetur Gross Matos
DE - 97 - Yetur Gross-Matos
DE - 97 - Yetur Gross-Matos
DE - 97 - Yetur Gross-Matos
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.
S - 42 - Sam Franklin
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
WR - 15 - Laviska Shenault Jr.
WR - 15 - Laviska Shenault Jr.
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson
WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
C/G - 56 - Bradley Bozeman
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
T - 72 - Taylor Moton
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
CB - 28 - Keith Taylor
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
TE - 53 - Brian Burns
TE - 80 - Ian Thomas
DE - 98 - Marquis Haynes
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson
QB - 14 - Sam Darnold
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
