Panthers head coach Dave Canales noted the absence of key offensive players during Tuesday’s voluntary OTAs. Rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is currently sidelined due to a hamstring strain and is undergoing the team’s return-to-play protocol.
“We’re just rehabbing him,” Canales stated. “He’s in return to play, and then as soon as we feel like he’s ready to get back out there, we’ll bring him back out.”
Horn, a sixth-round draft pick, had made an impression during rookie minicamp. Canales expressed optimism about Horn’s potential contributions to the team.
“Yeah, Jimmy gives us a lot of options,” Canales remarked. “There’s some perimeter things we can do with him, the jet sweep game, but then also, like just from his college film, he’s a receiver first and foremost.”
Veteran tight end Tommy Tremble will also be absent until at least the start of training camp following recent back surgery. Canales provided some insight into Tremble’s recovery process.
“I don’t know specifically what the timeline is; there’s a window in there he could get back to us at some point as we go into the preseason in camp,” Canales explained. “He feels great, but there’s a lot that goes into that, making sure that he’s right.”
Canales addressed why Tremble did not undergo surgery earlier in the offseason.
“He would come out and say he’d feel great in practice, but the minute that he would cool down and kind of sit around, it just was so uncomfortable,” Canales said. “We thought with having some time right now, like the sooner, the better.”
The Panthers had additional absences on Tuesday for personal reasons.
