The Carolina Panthers have exercised the fifth-year option on cornerback Jaycee Horn according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

This was far from a guarantee because of Horn’s injury history, but he is still only 24 years old and the cellar-dwelling Panthers can’t afford to be throwing in the towel on young talent. It is looking increasingly less likely Horn ever lives up to his No. 8 overall pedigree, but he continues to make a visible impact and earn strong Pro Football Focus coverage marks when on the field.