Two Practice Squad DBs Are Up, And the Panthers’ Secondary Is an Absolute Mess

The Carolina Panthers are digging deep into their roster, pulling up cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton from the practice squad. This move, announced Saturday afternoon, screams loud and clear: they are absolutely desperate for depth in the secondary right now, especially with a Week 9 clash against the Denver Broncos just around the corner.

The New Faces Trying to Patch the Secondary

This isn’t Marco Wilson’s first rodeo this season. This is his second straight call-up, showing just how much the Panthers are leaning on him. The sixth-year veteran even got the start in their Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He put in some serious work, too, logging 69 defensive snaps, recording eight combined tackles, and deflecting two passes. He’s clearly someone they trust to step in when needed.

Then there’s Corey Thornton, an undrafted rookie from the 2025 class. This marks his first elevation in 2026. While new to the active roster this year, he’s not entirely new to game action. Last season, he appeared in 12 games for the Panthers, piling up 14 combined tackles, three passes defensed, and even forcing a fumble. They’re definitely hoping that previous experience translates quickly.

Why the Panthers Are Scrambling

Why the urgent need for practice squad reinforcements? The Panthers are facing a full-blown crisis at cornerback. Both of their usual starting corners, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, are still on injured reserve. That’s a huge hit to any team’s defense, but it doesn’t stop there. They’ll also be without backups Akayleb Evans and Will Lee III, who was officially ruled out Friday with a hamstring injury.

With four key players sidelined, it’s no wonder they’re scrambling to get warm bodies into those spots. This patchwork secondary is about to face a tough test.

The Panthers are set to take on the Denver Broncos tomorrow, and you just know everyone will be watching how this makeshift defensive backfield holds up. Talk about having your back against the wall, huh?

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.