Jimmy Horn Jr has been turning heads at Panthers minicamp, and there’s no question he has charisma, boldly comparing himself to one of Carolina’s all-time legends at the receiver position.
ESPN’s David Newton used a perplexed tone about Horn comparing himself to Steve Smith Sr.
“Panthers’ rookie receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. says he has a little Steve Smith in him. Not sure Carolina’s all-time leading receiver ever was as fast as Horn, who says we haven’t seen all his speed yet,” Newton tweeted.
Newton added that when asked what that will look like, Horn said, “I’ll be flying.”
And a steal is what Horn would be given his speed and ability to get open. Smith had a different mindset about the game that not very many people have, and to openly admit that you want to be that legend, you have to make the team. If he continues to impress going into the preseason, he could easily make the 53-man roster and get more snaps than you might think he will.
Carolina doesn’t have many potential impact players, on paper, besides the recently drafted Tetairoa McMillan and Adam Thielen.
Related: Thielen will be 35 on opening day.
There will be opportunities available for Jimmy to not only make the team, but also get some playing time in 2025.
He may not start right away, given that he is just a rookie – since starting two rookie wide receivers in Week 1 would be crazy, or at best, risky – but the wide receiver room for the Panthers is so thin for that team. He will see the field.
If he makes big plays, he will get more time, becoming the Steve Smith Sr 2.0 Panthers fans have longed for since the legend's departure.