The Carolina Panthers’ cornerback room got even thinner in Thursday night’s 27-19 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field, and head coach Dave Canales isn’t saying whether help is coming from outside the building.
Carolina was already without Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans, which is why the team called up Marco Wilson before kickoff. Then Will Lee III left with a hamstring injury, forcing the secondary to shuffle its coverage looks against Jordan Love, as reported by ClutchPoints.
Canales Points Upstairs
Asked about a possible trade, Canales deferred to general manager Dan Morgan, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. He did say practice-squad corner Corey Thornton will be getting an opportunity “real soon.” Thornton is 6-foot-1, knows the defensive scheme and showed promise before a fibula injury ended his 2025 season early.
The IAHHM Take
The Panthers started 3-2 with Bryce Young and the offense showing real signs of life. Two straight losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay later, they sit at 3-4 with a secondary held together by tape. That’s a tough combo when the schedule doesn’t slow down.
Giving Thornton a shot makes sense. He’s familiar with the system and he’s healthy, which counts for a lot right now. But if Horn’s absence drags on, Morgan has a decision to make: ride it out with practice-squad depth, or spend real draft capital to stabilize the back end while the season is still within reach. The extra rest that comes after a Thursday game buys Carolina a little time to figure it out.
Panthers fans, would you make a trade for a corner or trust the young guys?
Source: ClutchPoints
