Dave Canales on Jaycee Horn trash talking: 'I love it'

Dave Canales enjoys it when Jaycee Horn is talking trash to players. While speaking to reporters last week, the Carolina Panthers head coach explained why he enjoys seeing Horn sounding off.

“I love it, and really what I’m looking for is I’m looking for guys to show who they are,” Canales said. “I think that comes with confidence, that comes from knowing what they’re doing and then just the natural flow of their personality. Each group kind of takes on a personality. I like that to happen organically, and that’s Jaycee.

“He’s showing this competitive side of him, he’s very vocal with that. I don’t expect all the guys to be that way if it fits them. I don’t want anybody to feel like it has to be contrived, I want it to be natural and I want it to come from confidence knowing what we’re doing and having that attack mentality. I love that part of it.”

Horn is anxious to make his return after missing all but four games last year due to a hamstring injury. The South Carolina alum was coming off a 2023 season when he notched 53 tackles three interceptions and seven passes defended in 13 games. During his rookie season in 2021, Horn missed all but three games as he suffered a fractured foot.

Carolina Panthers have a lot of faith in Jaycee Horn

Despite the injuries, the Panthers believe in Horn as they picked up his fifth-year option in April. “I just felt like it was one of those things, you see Jaycee around here, the work that he’s putting in, the dedication just being here every single day, busting his ass,” Morgan said at the time, per the Panthers’ official website. “He deserved it. I think, obviously, he’s had some tough stretches with injuries, but it’s not due to a lack of work or a lack of commitment from Jaycee. So, we’re excited about him. We’re excited about his future and just really excited for him.”

Horn revealed he has changed things up during the offseason to stay healthy. “Just trying different things,” Horn said in May. “Obviously, what I did the years before it didn’t work, with dealing with injury and it could be some unluckiness, but just trying to switch some up and just start from ground zero and build my body back up.”