The Carolina Panthers are facing serious injury concerns early in training camp as the team prepares to defend a division crown.
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Second-year linebacker Nic Scourton was carted off the practice field on Thursday morning. He will now undergo imaging after suffering an apparent right knee injury. Scourton could not put any weight on his right knee as trainers helped him onto the cart.
The emotions became clear as multiple members of the team refused to leave his side. This included Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, and Jaelan Phillips. The other members of the team made their way to the cart before it left the practice field, and they spent a few moments with their injured teammate.
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Scourton played in all 17 games for the Panthers, and he started eight as the team won the NFC South. He also started the 34-31 playoff loss to the Rams.
He posted 47 combined tackles, seven tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, five sacks, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble. He tied Derrick Brown for the team lead in sacks.
The expectation heading toward the 2026 season was that Scourton would be the starter opposite Phillips. Now, the questions will focus on his health.
If the Panthers lose the second-year linebacker for an extended period of time, the team will have to turn to other options to move forward into the season. This includes second-year linebacker Princely Umanmielen, who registered 1.5 sacks last season as a role player.
Another option is Patrick Jones II, who joined the Panthers in 2025 after four seasons with the Vikings. Jones registered 105 tackles, 12 sacks, and one forced fumble in 57 games with the Vikings.
He only played in four games last season after moving to Charlotte, and he posted one sack with nine combined tackles. He added one pass defensed and two quarterback hits.
