The Detroit Lions need as much help as they can get right now. Of course, injuries are never good news, even when they happen to players on opposing teams. However, this time, it's impossible to deny that Dan Campbell's team will benefit from one.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, Carolina Panthers star cornerback Jaycee Horn will be sidelined for six to 12 weeks with a quad injury. That's terrible news for Dave Canales' team, but a big break for Jared Goff's passing game.
Horn suffered the injury in the loss to the Cleveland Browns. Notably, his absence will leave the Panthers' secondary quite vulnerable to Drew Petzing's offense and the Lions' plethora of explosive weapons.
In addition to Horn, other starting CB Mike Jackson also left the game with a groin injury. Carolina's best offensive lineman, Damien Lewis, was also ruled out for a few weeks with a UCL injury in his elbow.
The Detroit Lions must make the most of Jaycee Horn's absence
On top of being a physical force in press-man coverage, Horn is also a willing and stout run defender. There's no such thing as stopping Jahmyr Gibbs right now, but having one fewer top-tier defender in front of him is obviously a positive.
The table is set for all Lions wide receivers not named Amon-Ra St. Brown to finally step up. Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa had their best game of the season in Week 3 vs. the New York Jets, so they might be able to carry on the momentum for another week.
St. Brown, Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta have done most of the heavy lifting for Jared Goff, and while that was the expectation with Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, this sounds like a solid setting to get everyone else going.
The Panthers' defense has struggled mightily since Week 1, giving up a whopping 59 points to the same Chicago Bears team that couldn't score 10 in the following contest. Just last week, they made 2026 Deshaun Watson look like his old self, even allowing him to march down the field for a game-winning score.
Of course, Kelvin Sheppard's unit also has some big issues of their own, and Bryce Young is showing major signs of improvement; he's no longer the erratic signal-caller who looked like a deer in headlights at the slightest sign of pressure.
That said, the Lions should be able to pull this one off if they don't shoot themselves in the foot again. Sometimes, offense is the best defense, and if they don't have the personnel to shut down guys like Jalen Coker or Tetairoa McMillan, the best way to approach it is by making sure they're not on the field often.
Long drives and explosive plays here and there should put this one out of reach soon. The Panthers can put up points like the best of them, but there's only so much they can do if they don't have anyone to stop the Lions' many weapons.
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