Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton suffered a torn ACL in training camp, per Ian Rapoport and Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, ending the 2025 second-round pick’s sophomore campaign before it even began.
Scourton, 21, was carted off the practice field on Thursday morning with subsequent tests confirming the team’s worst fears. He will not play this season; instead, surgery and a lengthy rehab process are on tap for the second-year edge rusher.
The Panthers were hoping that Scourton would build on his solid rookie season (five sacks, seven tackles for loss) opposite big-money free agent signing Jaelan Phillips. Now, they will be scrambling for depth in an edge rusher room that is relatively unproven behind Phillips.
Veteran Patrick Jones and 2025 third-round pick Princely Umanmielen are the top candidates to take over Scourton’s starting role. Jones, 27, signed a two-year, $20MM deal with the Panthers last offseason and started the first four games of the regular season before undergoing season-ending back surgery. He was coming off a breakout 2024 in Minnesota, which included seven sacks and nine TFLs, so he may be Carolina’s primary replacement for Scourton right away.
Umanmielen, 24, appeared in 16 games as a rookie with a rotational role on defense. He managed just 1.5 sacks and two TFLs, but his production and All-SEC nods in his final two college seasons indicate he can grow into a more productive NFL player. As unfortunate as Scourton’s injury is, it still represents a major opportunity for Umanmielen.
More to come.
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