The Cleveland Browns are giving Jimmy Horn Jr. a quick second chance after his Carolina Panthers exit, adding the second-year wide receiver and return specialist to their practice squad after he cleared waivers.
The move comes two days after Carolina waived Horn while promoting linebacker Tyrel Dodson to the 53-man roster. The Panthers had indicated they were interested in bringing Horn back to their own practice squad, but Carolina announced Thursday that Horn chose Cleveland instead.
For the Browns, the signing adds a young receiver with return experience at a moment when the roster has already been reshaped by injuries. It also reunites Horn with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, his former Colorado teammate.
What changed since Carolina waived Jimmy Horn Jr.
FSN previously covered Carolina’s decision to waive Horn after his costly Week 1 special-teams mistake. At that point, the key question was whether the Panthers could get him through waivers and back onto their practice squad.
That did not happen. Horn cleared waivers, but instead of returning to Carolina, he accepted a practice-squad opportunity with Cleveland. The Panthers confirmed the outcome Thursday while announcing the signing of wide receiver EJ Williams to fill their own practice-squad opening.
That makes this more than a routine waiver follow-up. Horn is not simply changing reserve lists; he is moving to another team that has a plausible need for the exact skills Carolina had been using him for.
Cleveland has an opening for return-game help
Horn’s fastest path to a game-day role may come on special teams. Cleveland is already dealing with the loss of running back Dylan Sampson, who landed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the opener. FSN covered how the Browns placed Sampson on IR and promoted Jaleel McLaughlin, a move that affected both offensive depth and the broader pool of players available for return duties.
Horn handled return responsibilities in Carolina and has enough speed to be useful on coverage and return units even if he does not immediately crack Cleveland’s offensive receiver rotation.
A practice-squad signing does not guarantee a Sunday role. The Browns would still have to elevate or sign Horn to the active roster for him to play. But practice-squad players can be elevated for game day, so Cleveland now has another option if injuries or special-teams needs force a change.
The Shedeur Sanders connection adds familiarity, not a quarterback guarantee
Horn and Sanders spent two seasons together at Colorado, where Horn was part of the passing game that helped raise both players’ national profiles. That history gives Horn a built-in relationship with one of Cleveland’s quarterbacks and should reduce some of the normal adjustment that comes with joining a new offense in September.
It would be a mistake, however, to treat Horn’s signing as evidence that the Browns are preparing an immediate quarterback change. Cleveland is adding Horn to the practice squad, not restructuring the active roster around him, and his most immediate value may be on special teams.
The Sanders connection still matters because practice-squad receivers often have to learn quickly while working with reserve quarterbacks. Familiar timing and terminology from their college days can help Horn get functional faster, even if the Browns’ starting-quarterback plan remains unchanged.
Why Carolina wanted Horn back
Horn’s Week 1 mistake was costly, but the Panthers did not publicly frame the waiver as a declaration that they were finished with him as a player. Head coach Dave Canales said the roster spot drove the decision, and Carolina’s Thursday transaction note made clear the team had considered bringing Horn back to the practice squad.
That context matters. Horn is a 2025 sixth-round pick who appeared in 13 games as a rookie and finished with 11 catches for 108 yards. His offensive production has been modest, but Carolina had continued using him as a developmental receiver and return option.
Cleveland is essentially betting that the Week 1 error does not define the player. Practice-squad space is designed for exactly that kind of low-risk evaluation.
Week 3 could make the move more interesting
The timing creates an immediate storyline beyond this weekend. Cleveland plays at Tampa Bay in Week 2, then returns home to face Carolina in Week 3.
If Horn is elevated by then, he could face the team that waived him less than two weeks earlier. Even if he remains on the practice squad, Cleveland will have had a full week to evaluate whether his return ability or receiver depth is worth using against his former team.
What to watch next
The first question is whether Cleveland formally uses Horn as part of its return rotation in practice. The second is whether the Browns elevate him for Week 2 or keep him in a developmental role while he learns the system.
For Carolina, the move closes the immediate possibility of bringing Horn back. For Cleveland, it is a low-cost addition with special-teams upside, receiver depth and an existing relationship with Sanders.
The next meaningful update will come when the Browns show where Horn is lining up and whether he is part of the game-day elevation conversation.
Sources
- Carolina Panthers: Panthers add wide receiver EJ Williams to the practice squad (September 17, 2026)
- Akron Beacon Journal: Browns adding ex-Panthers WR Jimmy Horn Jr. to practice squad (September 17, 2026)
- NBC Sports: Browns add WR Jimmy Horn Jr. to practice squad (September 17, 2026)