The Carolina Panthers wide receiver battle is about to get ruthless, and Jimmy Horn Jr. may be staring at the wrong side of the cut line.

Carolina enters training camp with a packed receiver room, and while there are plenty of names fighting for attention, the top of the depth chart already looks close to locked. Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Chris Brazzell II and Xavier Legette should all be safe barring something wild. McMillan is coming off an Offensive Rookie of the Year season, Brazzell just arrived as a third-round pick, Coker earned an offseason extension and Legette still has enough draft investment attached to him that the Panthers aren’t likely to bail yet.

That leaves the chaos below them.

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Even if Carolina keeps seven wide receivers, there may only be three open spots. David Moore feels close to automatic because of his special teams value and Dave Canales’ trust in him. Brycen Tremayne also brings special teams usefulness, which matters a lot when teams are sorting out the final few roster spots.

That’s where Horn’s problem gets real.

The former Colorado receiver made the roster last season as a sixth-round rookie, but he never truly forced his way into the offense. Horn appeared in 13 games, finishing with just 11 catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns. He had only 19 total touches, and too often he was either inactive or buried in the game plan.

The upside is still obvious. Horn has juice. He’s fast, slippery and capable of creating explosive plays if the Panthers can find ways to use him. But potential doesn’t guarantee a jersey on Sundays, especially when the coaching staff needs reliability, special teams production and players who can help Bryce Young immediately.

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That likely puts Horn in a nasty fight with John Metchie, Malick Meiga and other depth receivers trying to crash the roster. Metchie hasn’t lived up to early expectations, but he has NFL experience. Meiga has the athletic profile of a player who could make noise quickly if he pops in camp.

Horn’s path is simple but not easy: he has to make himself impossible to cut.

A few splash plays won’t be enough. He needs to show growth as a route runner, earn trust in the offense and prove he can contribute beyond gadget touches. Otherwise, the Panthers’ crowded receiver room could squeeze out one of their most intriguing young playmakers before Week 1.