CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the first time at Carolina Panthers training camp, cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson were full participants during Wednesday’s full-pads practice.It wasn’t a banner day for a corner duo considered one of the league’s best.With pinpoint passing, Bryce Young carved up the first-team secondary with several long touchdown passes on a day when the offense got the best of the defense.“They whupped our ass today for most of the practice,” Horn said.Who will be named the 'green dot' player on Panthers defense?Robert MaysThe Panthers might have some problematic position groups in head coach Dave Canales’ third season. Corner is not one of them, despite what happened Wednesday.“It was great to have Mike and Jaycee back out there for the full practice. It makes things harder out there on the perimeter, makes you have to question whether you want to target that receiver out there. That’s what we’re used to,” Canales said.“And with the pressure unit that we have, the different packages we have, to be able to have those guys sitting out there staring at the quarterback, I can tell you from personal experience it’s not comfortable.”Horn, a Pro Bowler the past two seasons, was willing to view Wednesday’s performance for what it meant in the bigger picture, specifically Young and an improved offense.“It’s good to see that, too,” he said. “Just because we know we’re coming in with some firepower on the offensive side of the ball and it’s gonna help us on Sundays.”But Jackson took it more personally, rattling off the list of his miscues when speaking with reporters afterward.“I dropped a pick, had a flag and gave up a pass. I don’t do that,” Jackson said. “I’ve just gotta come in here and lock more in because that don’t happen.”The Panthers practiced without their starting corners most of the first week of camp. Horn opened camp on the non-football injury list after cutting his foot while training. Jackson participated in the first practice before missing several days with back tightness.Both were cleared Tuesday, when they eased back into action. They had no limitations Wednesday, though it’s fair to wonder whether they were both knocking off rust.Horn is also getting accustomed to lining up more at nickel, a position he hasn’t played since 2021 when a broken foot ended his rookie season after three games. Horn wasn’t sold on the idea until he spoke to Pittsburgh Steelers corner Jalen Ramsey, who had success in the slot for the Los Angeles Rams when Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was on the Rams’ staff.“They did a similar thing with Jalen Ramsey in this scheme when he was in L.A. So just seeing the plays he made at the nickel position and moving around had kinda made me more open to it,” Horn said. “I’m starting to get a good feel for it. It’s pretty fun playing in there instead of just sitting in the boundary all game.”Having Horn in the slot meant he and Jackson were lined up near each other for much of Wednesday’s practice, a departure from the past two seasons when Horn would align to the boundary side opposite Jackson on the other side of the field. Jackson liked that aspect.“We talk about football all the time,” he said. “But now we’re actually out there together, trying to make sure we see the same thing the same way.”The two were on the same page for much of last season. With quarterbacks avoiding throwing at Horn, Jackson was tested often and responded by tying for the league lead with 19 passes defensed. In coverage as the nearest defender, Jackson allowed a 68.7 passer rating, the fifth-lowest among 47 corners with 400-plus coverage snaps while aligned outside.Despite being targeted on just 12.1 percent of his 495 coverage snaps — the 10th-lowest rate in the league — Horn still finished with a career-high five interceptions, tied for second in the NFL.Fans and observers outside of Charlotte are beginning to notice. Horn (No. 76) made the NFL’s top-100 list for the first time this year, although he said he doesn’t care what outsiders think, even if some past social media posts indicated otherwise.How the Panthers move forward without Nic ScourtonJoseph Person“I’m trying to stay off it a little more. I’m probably gonna delete all that going into the season because I’m too competitive,” he said. “I reply to some of them and then (a Panthers public relations official) is hitting my phone, getting on me. So I’m gonna try to just stay off of it and not look at it this year.”Jackson was one of the NFL’s best bargains in 2025 after signing a two-year, $10.5 million deal. He earned an extra $500,000 in incentives by finishing with four interceptions, and pocketed another $1.04 million via the NFL’s performance-based pay program, which awards players who outperform their contracts.The 29-year-old Jackson is set to earn $4.25 million in base salary in the final year of his contract. He hasn’t heard from the Panthers about a possible extension, but is trying not to focus on his next deal. Canales deferred to general manager Dan Morgan and vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis when asked about Jackson’s contract situation.Jackson just wants to make sure there aren’t many more days like Wednesday.“My job is just to come play ball. If I have days like I did today, I ain’t gonna get what I want. So I’ve gotta lock in and just go play ball,” he said. ” … I’m on the tip of the iceberg, but I’m so far away. Because if I’m more worried about the money, then days like today are gonna start happening in games. And then it’s gonna be where you don’t even deserve no contract.“If I do what I’m supposed to, regardless, the money gonna come, no matter where it’s at.”