Preparing to face the NFL’s hottest team, the Carolina Panthers are preparing to be short-handed at a key position Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
Jaycee Horn (concussion) will not dress against the Los Angeles Rams, winners of six straight. Horn, who signed a four-year, $100 million extension last summer, collected five interceptions in his opening 12 starts. He was trending toward earning Pro Bowl recognition for a second consecutive season, but did not practice all week.
Horn suffered a head injury during last Monday night’s 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He had two interceptions in the primetime showing.
Along with the one-game suspension of safety Tre’von Moehrig for his low punch Monday, the Panthers will be missing two secondary starters. CB2 Mike Jackson is expected to remain on the short side, while Chau Smith-Wade and special teamer Akayleb Evans could share time on the outside.
The Panthers (6-6) also have newcomer Robert Rochelle, who joined the Panthers’ 53-man roster from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. The five-year veteran previously played for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero with the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers also signed cornerback David Long Jr. to the practice squad. Long made four tackles in the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl victory.
Safety Lathan Ransom appears in line to earn his sixth start of the season. In a reserve role, the rookie posted 34 tackles (18 solo) and one forced fumble.
“I trust these guys to get it done,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said, per Panthers.com. “And they had a great week of preparation.”
Center Cade Mays (ankle), guard Chandler Zavala (calf) and linebackers Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Claudin Cherelus (concussion) also were ruled out Sunday.
#Panthers CB Chau Smith-Wade stands in line to replace CB1 Jaycee Horn versus high scoring #Rams on #NFL Sunday … pic.twitter.com/MA3sh7iD9i
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 28, 2025
Short-Handed Carolina Panthers Facing Tough Task
Evero credits Rams coach Sean McVay for possessing one of the brightest offensive – and defensive – minds in the NFL.
He could be right.
Entering Week 13, the NFC-leading Rams (9-2) possess the league’s biggest point differential (+127) and the top scoring defense (16.3).
“This is a great offense,” Evero said. “Regardless of who we have out there, this is going to be a hard team to defend. I just always look at the opportunity that it creates for other players if Jaycee can’t go, and some of these other things. But at the end of the day, it’s like there’s no excuses.
“ We got to go out there with who we have and we’ll be more than capable and ready.”
#Panthers DC Ejiro Evero’s shorthanded defense will be challenged by #Rams QB Matthew Stafford, a leading candidate for NFL MVP, Sunday … pic.twitter.com/ppnjlAB5cZ
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 29, 2025
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