Cornerbacks live for physical matchups, but what happens when the officials take away their edge? For Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn, Sunday’s game was as much about mental resilience as physical competition.
Navigating a Tough Matchup
Horn faced a challenging day against DeAndre Hopkins whose style relied on consistent physicality. “The man pushed off every play and that’s his game. You got a right to do that,” Horn said, acknowledging the opponent’s strategy. Despite his efforts to adapt, penalties made the game a constant uphill battle for the young cornerback.
Communication with Officials
Horn shared his proactive approach before kickoff: “I tried to talk to the ref, let him know he going to push, I’m going to grab and pull, but it didn’t work.” Despite knowing the referees ranked second in the league for calling defensive penalties, Horn’s discussions failed to influence their decision-making during critical moments.
Adjusting Mid-Game
Being flagged repeatedly forced Horn to alter his aggressive playing style. “It’s kind of frustrating… my game is playing physical,” he admitted. Yet, Horn remains optimistic, stating, “It is what it is. I’ll be better next week.”
