Deion Sanders has plenty to celebrate after Colorado opened the 2026 season with two wins, while his son, Shedeur Sanders, continues to fight for an opportunity to establish himself as a starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. However, amid these developments surrounding the Sanders family, someone closely connected to them received a brutal career update this week.
Jimmy Horn Jr. after Panthers waive Shedeur Sanders‘ friend
The Carolina Panthers made a somewhat unexpected roster move on Tuesday, waiving wide receiver and 2025 sixth-round draft pick Jimmy Horn Jr. The decision allowed Carolina to open a spot on its active roster for inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson, bringing an abrupt end to Horn’s time with the Panthers despite the young receiver being drafted by the organization only a few months ago.
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) runs a drill during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Horn’s release came shortly after Carolina suffered a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears.
One moment that may have worked against the young receiver occurred in the second quarter, when the game was tied at 21. Horn muffed his first punt-return opportunity, giving Chicago possession and allowing the Bears to take advantage of both the momentum and favorable field position.
The Panthers subsequently moved on from Horn, leaving the team with five wide receivers on its 53-man roster: Brycen Tremayne, Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette and John Metchie III. Carolina’s initial Week 2 depth chart also indicated that Metchie would assume the return duties previously handled by Horn.
Horn’s release quickly drew attention from someone who knows the young receiver particularly well. Deion Sanders, who coached Horn during his college career, spoke publicly about the situation and made it clear that he remains highly fond of his former player.
“I made some calls to him, immediately,” Coach Prime said in an interview on Wednesday. “I love Jimmy. Jimmy’s a great, great kid.
“I don’t understand, and I hate questioning management because I’m not there, but this kid is a great human being. He dropped the punt. Okay, I get it. I understand. But if you just wanted to get rid of him, it wasn’t about character.”
Meanwhile, Horn has referred to Shedeur as his brother since their days together in Boulder, and although the two former teammates entered the NFL with different organizations after the 2025 NFL Draft, their friendship has remained strong.
That bond was evident during training camp when Horn was asked about Shedeur’s chances of winning Cleveland’s quarterback competition.
At the time, Browns head coach Todd Monken had yet to officially name his QB1 for the regular season, and Horn made it clear that he was rooting for his former Colorado teammate while remaining focused on his own season.
“I pray my boy do win that competition,” Horn Jr. said during training camp. “Right now, I’m worried about our season, what we got going on. But I pray my boy will win whatever they’ve got going on.”
Horn’s sudden departure from Carolina therefore represents more than just another roster transaction for Sanders and his former Colorado players.
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