Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn had a pair of interceptions in the first half of Monday night’s game against the 49ers, but he may not be around for the second half.
Horn did not return to the field after halftime and the team announced that he is being evaluated for a concussion. The Panthers call him questionable to return.
Lisa Salters of ESPN reported that Horn was throwing up on the sideline after his second interception. Corey Thornton is seeing time at corner with Horn out of the lineup.
The Panthers have also lost linebacker Claudin Cherelus to a concussion. Krys Barnes has taken his spot in the lineup.
The 49ers led 10-3 at halftime and remain up by that score with more than six minutes off the clock in the third quarter.
UPDATE 9:59 p.m. ET: Horn has been ruled out for the remainder of the game.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy played a sloppy first half in Monday night’s game against the Panthers, but his team still leads 10-3 at the halftime break.
Purdy opened the game by leading a 15-play touchdown drive that ate up nearly nine minutes, but then threw interceptions on each of the team’s next three possessions. The 49ers defense had an interception of its own and held the Panthers to one field goal before the 49ers were able to drive for Matt Gay’s first field goal since joining the Niners.
The 49ers looked like they might be able to drive for even more points, but Purdy misfired on three straight passes before the 47-yard kick with a minute to play in the first half. Purdy ended the half 14-of-23 for 114 yards while Christian McCaffrey picked up 83 yards on 17 touches.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young wasn’t any better than Purdy in the first 30 minutes. He followed up Purdy’s first interception by trying to force a ball to tight end Mitchell Evans in the end zone and 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown picked it off to keep the Panthers off the board.
Young finished the half 6-of-10 for 28 yards and, per ESPN, the Panthers are the first team to trail at halftime after a three-interception half since Week 12 of the 2021 season. They’ll have a chance to start turning things around when they receive the opening kickoff of the third quarter.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is having a nightmare of a first half, but his team still leads the Panthers.
Purdy has thrown interceptions on three straight drives, including a pair of passes that cornerback Jaycee Horn has picked off. Horn’s second one set the Panthers up at the 49ers’ 33-yard line and Carolina picked up two first downs before a pass to running back Chuba Hubbard lost three yards on a third down from the 4-yard line.
Ryan Fitzgerald came in for a field goal and the Panthers cut the 49ers’ lead to 7-3 with 2:28 left in the first half.
Horn’s first interception set the Panthers up in the red zone and they drove the ball to the 1-yard line before quarterback Bryce Young’s ill-advised throw to tight end Mitchell Evans was picked off by 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
The 49ers’ offense made it look easy tonight in San Francisco.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the 49ers went on a 15-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings.
Purdy completed six of seven passes for 33 yards on the drive, while Christian McCaffrey ran six times for 28 yards. McCaffrey also caught three passes on the opening drive, so he already has nine touches, nine minutes into the game.
Now Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense will try to answer.
The Rams’ already stellar passing game should have another target on Sunday against the Panthers.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters today that wide receiver Tutu Atwell will practice this week and should be off injured reserve and on the active roster to play on Sunday.
McVay said Atwell, who hasn’t played since October 19 because of a hamstring injury, appears to be “ready to roll” this week.
Atwell has only caught four passes this season, but he has big play ability: His 88-yard touchdown in Week Four against the Colts was the longest passing play in the NFL this season, and two of his other three catches went for more than 30 yards. The Rams are adding another playmaker when Atwell comes back.
