Veteran and rookie receivers bookend the day
Stop us if you've heard this before, but Jimmy Horn Jr. made another impressive play in training camp practice on Tuesday. The rookie was running with the twos—or as Andy Dalton has taken to calling the group, "The Next Guys"—in a 7-on-7 period. The rookie used his speed off the line to open up space downfield. Corner Michael Reid turned on the burners to catch up, instinctually pulling on Horn's jersey to try to slow down the speedster.
It was a flag, something that would've given the offense yardage anyways during a game. But Horn didn't need it, fighting forwards even with the overzealous defense, and made a diving catch towards the sideline.
It's a reminder of just how deep this receiver group is, and what the Panthers are finding in the corps.
"They're all challenging each other and pushing each other, and you don't feel like there's a huge drop off when you go from one group to the next," bragged Idzik.
Added corner Jaycee Horn of the catch: "He made a tough catch across the middle today. He laid out for it.
"You got to put hands on Jimmy. He too fast. It's hard to guard him at all because of his speed. He plays tough, you know. I don't think he get a lot of credit for how tough he plays with his size because he is a smaller receiver, but you see him in camp."
The rain made things a little sloppy as the day wore on, but Hunter Renfrow ensured there was still one more impressive catch to end practice. As the team went into red zone team drills, the veteran receiver flashed his patented route running in the middle of the field, peeling off his defender to cut across the front corner of the end zone.
Bryce Young hit him there for the touchdown that was part great throw, part Renfrow using his body to get just past the pylon.
"I said it earlier in camp, he real good at creating separation with route stems," Jaycee Horn said. "He has so much trickery in his routes, so he definitely a tough cover."