CHARLOTTE — When Jaycee Horn made his first Pro Bowl last season, his dad—former receiver Joe Horn—jokingly told him, "Get to four, then we'll talk."

Joe Horn, as you can likely infer, made four Pro Bowls during his 12-year NFL career. Jaycee Horn made his first roster last year, after he went through a season with few injuries and showed the world what a full-time Jaycee Horn could do for a team.

"People talk. I was getting hurt a lot, so I understood it," said Horn, standing by his locker on Wednesday and looking back on his first Pro Bowl selection. "But at the same time, just trying to stay confident in my abilities, and just knowing who I am. I feel like I was always one of the best corners in this league.

"It was just having an opportunity to be out there and be healthy. I feel like I've been healthy the last two years, and these are the results I'm getting, so I'm just trying to keep going, keep getting better."

The opportunity has certainly paid off, and on Tuesday, Horn was announced he'd been selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, his second appearance. Now, he's made back-to-back years and is catching up to dad quickly.

"Oh yeah, halfway there, yeah, we're still working," smiled Horn. "I still got a long way to go to get more to him."

All signs indicate he'll do so before it's all said and done. The corner has been on an unprecedented run this season, tied for second in the league with five interceptions. He has had two multi-interception games, against the Jets and the 49ers. It made him the top vote-getter across all corners in the NFL in the fan vote.

But Horn still holds a special place in his heart for last season, when he wasn't even in the fan vote and was still named a starter. Because that means the other two portions of the vote, coaches and players, overwhelmingly felt he was deserving.

"Getting appreciation from the coaches and players, that I felt a little better," admitted Horn. "But it's cool to make it regardless, either way."

No matter how the votes shook out, it's clear players and coaches are well aware of what Horn can do on the field. Sunday against the Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers didn't target Horn once on 29 coverage snaps (the DPI in the end zone was a negated play, not recognized). Instead, the corner just threw himself into the run game, including making a touchdown-saving tackle that had a significant impact on the final score in the Panthers' win.

"That game was close, so I didn't really get bored. You learn, like I kind of went through that a little bit in college, not getting targeted as much, and you learn you still got to be ready because I done got popped before, being on the sideline playing around or not as focused," recalled Horn.

"I remember we played Vanderbilt and they popped me like that with a guy I can't even tell you his name right now, so as a corner, you just always got to stay locked in and ready for the opportunity."

It's the kind of attitude that gets you elected to back-to-back Pro Bowls.

General manager Dan Morgan and coach Dave Canales called Horn early Tuesday morning to let him know the news and congratulate him on the selection.

"Just wanted him to know how proud I am of him, of the hard work that goes into this," said Canales. "I see how hard he's working on his body, on his mind, getting himself ready for game day, and it's all paying off because he's doing things the right way and has a real professionalism about him."

With a playoff push on the line and a feasible chance to clinch the division on Sunday against the Seahawks—who have the best record in football—this isn't a week to celebrate, though. That will come later. And as the man who made multiple Pro Bowls during his time, Joe Horn knew well enough how to encourage his son this week.

"(My dad) just told me to stay focused on being in here and trying to get to the playoffs," shared Horn. "Trying to get to the dance, and just staying focused was the main message for him."

Injury updates from Wednesday's practice

Since the Panthers are playing a West Coast team, the injury report won't be out until later in the day.

But during the portion of practice open to the media, linebacker Trevin Wallace and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton were absent.

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was doing some work on the side. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was working after missing last week's game with a knee issue.

Players were in the locker room briefly, but Canales canceled the afternoon meetings so they could get back to their families and friends.

The full injury report will be out later on Panthers.com.

A taste of the original Panthers at practice

Since it's the holidays, there were a few guests around the building.

Original Panthers general manager Bill Polian was at practice and spent some time catching up with senior defensive assistant Dom Capers before the work started.

Those two built a quick winner here in the expansion years.

(And they happened to be watching another team in the second year of their process, which is doing pretty well.)

After an 0-5 start in 1995, they went 7-4 to close the inaugural season, and then went 12-4 and won the NFC West title in their second season together.

Polian, the Hall of Fame general manager who also helped build winners in Buffalo and Indianapolis, still lives in the area.