Second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the team's first day of camp Thursday and will miss the entire 2026 season, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Scourton will seek a second opinion.
How It Happened
Scourton went down on a wet field late in practice during team drills, appearing to be engaged in a block with an offensive lineman at the time.
Players immediately gathered around him on one knee, and Scourton held his hand over his face as he was led to a cart.
As he left the field, the cart stopped, and head coach Dave Canales and every player on the roster individually walked over to hug him before he was taken to the training room.
Panthers LB Nic Scourton suffers torn ACL and is out for the season. (via @RapSheet + @CameronWolfe) pic.twitter.com/S4iturkhlr
— NFL (@NFL) July 23, 2026
"They care about each other," Canales said. "Whenever you're in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond."
Quarterback Bryce Young, who was near the play, praised how quickly Scourton has grown into a leader.
"It's been really cool to see him come into his own," Young said. "He has a super-high motor, has great energy. He's fun to be around. He turns into that different competitor when he's on the field."
A Major Loss
Scourton was slated to start opposite free-agent addition Jaelan Phillips.
The No. 51 overall pick out of Texas A&M in 2025 had an outstanding rookie season, appearing in all 17 games with eight starts and tying Derrick Brown for the team lead with five sacks despite starting the year as a rotational player.
He added 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, one pass defensed, and a forced fumble while tying the Panthers' rookie pressure record.
At just 21, Scourton was widely viewed as a breakout candidate for 2026.
What Comes Next
Princely Umanmielen and Patrick Jones II are the names most likely to step up in his place.
Umanmielen, a third-round pick out of Ole Miss last year, recorded 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 16 games as a rookie without making a start, while Jones played just four games last season before a back injury ended his year.
Carolina's pass-rush room is not deep, and with camp just beginning, GM Dan Morgan could look outside the building for help.
Jadeveon Clowney, a former Panther, remains one of the top free-agent pass rushers available after recording 8.5 sacks with the Cowboys last season.
