Panthers HC Frank Reich announces Cade Mays to start in place of injured Brady Christensen

Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich revealed that Cade Mays will get the start in place of injured guard Brady Christensen. NFL writer Darin Gantt reported the news.

Mays is a second-year player out of Tennessee. He’s played in 11 career games with the Panthers, making two starts.

“Cade Mays will start at guard,” Reich said. “And there may be some rotation there, maybe not. We’ll see how it goes.”

Frank Reich says Cade Mays will start at guard, after the season-ending injury to left guard Brady Christensen. Doesn't want to specify left or right.

Chandler Zavala started on the right last week, but played on the left throughout his college career.

— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) September 16, 2023

Christensen sustained an injury to his biceps during Carolina’s Week 1 loss to Atlanta. He played the entirety of the game, but the injury required surgery, which the lineman has already undergone.

Christensen will miss the remainder of the season.

Mays was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Panthers. He started his college career at Georgia (2018-19) before transferring to Tennessee to round out his time (2020-21).

In 2021, Mays was a second-team All-SEC selection with the Volunteers.

Carolina hosts the New Orleans Saints in a divisional matchup on Monday Night Football this week. The Panthers and Saints square off at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN2.

Panthers place Jaycee Horn on injured reserve

The Panthers are already dealing with some major injuries through the first week of the season. That’s not exactly ideal for Carolina.

Cornerback Jaycee Horn was placed on the injured reserve, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday. The injury is not considered season-ending, though, which leaves some hope he could return “at some point in the second half of the season.”

Horn suffered a hamstring injury in the Panthers’ season opener against the Falcons.

Horn was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. In his first season, he suffered a fractured foot, which ended his rookie campaign after just three games.

Last season, the defensive back appeared in 13 contests, making 53 tackles, defending seven passes and collecting three interceptions.

After Sunday’s game, one of Horn’s teammates commented on the tough situation.

“It becomes very tough, becomes very tough man,” cornerback Donte Jackson said about potentially not playing with Horn, per the Panthers’ website. “Just knowing the type of guy he is, and knowing how bad he wants it, how hard he works, and he never does anything wrong, you know what I’m saying?

“He’s always a great professional. He’s always doing everything that he’s supposed to do to be out there.”

So far, Carolina has endured a season-opening loss and multiple key injuries. Not a great start for the Panthers.