The Carolina Panthers improved to 3-0 on Thursday night with a 24-9 win over the Houston Texans. However, the team wasn’t in the mood to celebrate after the game cost them their star running back Christian McCaffrey and talented rookie corner Jaycee Horn.
McCaffrey, who led the league in yards scrimmage with 324 yards through the first two weeks, was hurt in the second quarter after a run attempt. He took a stutter step while trying to avoid a defender but only managed to gain two yards before going out of bounds. The 25-year-old star immediately headed to the sidelines after the play and didn’t return to the contest anymore.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told the reporters after the game that McCaffrey suffered a strained hamstring. The severity of the injury and the timetable for his return is yet to be determined.
Carolina suffered another blow in the third quarter when Horn went down with a non-contact injury. According to Rhule, the 2021 first-round pick is dealing with a broken foot and is headed to a significant spell on the sidelines.
While the Panthers didn’t reveal further details about Horn’s injury, the NFL Network reports that the South Carolina product will be out between two and three months.
“We love those guys,” Rhule told reporters. “We’re going to help them get better.
