GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Carolina Panthers were forced to reach deep into their cornerback depth chart against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Already without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin) as well as fill-in starter Akayleb Evans (triceps), the Panthers lost rookie cornerback Will Lee III (hamstring) in the second quarter after a 53-yard completion from Packers quarterback Jordan Love to wide receiver Christian Watson. Watson also was injured on the play and was taken to a local hospital with a chest injury.
Lee was ruled out for the game just before the start of the second half.
The Panthers, who were already starting practice-squad cornerback Marco Wilson opposite Lee, were forced to turn to 2024 fifth-round pick Chau Smith-Wade for the remainder of the first half. The team had gone with Lee, Evans and Wilson over Smith-Wade in recent weeks with Horn and Jackson on injured reserve.
The Panthers promoted rookie Malcolm DeWalt, who made his NFL debut Thursday, and he is the only other healthy corner on the roster as Carolina trails Green Bay, 20-10, with 1:35 left in the first half.