Carolina Panthers May Just Survive Nic Scourton's Brutal Injury

In his first year as president of football operations/general manager in 2024, Dan Morgan tapped free agency and added Jadeveon Clowney, A’Shawn Robinson (from Giants), and D.J. Wonnum. Clowney and Robinson tied for team lead with 5.5 sacks, and Wonnum was third (4.0). The Panthers did improve their quarterback trap total by five (32), but it was tied for the third-fewest sacks in the league.

The 2025 offseason brought Patrick Jones II (Vikings) in free agency and edge rushers Nic Scourton (2-Texas A&M) and Princely Umanmielen (3-Mississippi) in the draft. Jones managed to play in only four games due to injuries, but Scourton improved on a weekly basis. He wound up tying for the team lead with Derrick Brown, racking up five sacks. However, the Panthers’ 30 QB traps were once again tied for the third-fewest in the NFL.

How will the Panthers overcome the loss of Nic Scourton?

Enter 2026. Scourton is out after suffering a torn ACL on the first day of training camp. The team was counting on him and high-priced newcomer Jaelan Phillips to become a very dangerous 1-2 punch off the edge. Now those plans have to change. The Panthers did bring back Cam Gill, who played in 10 games with the team in 2024.  Meanwhile, the solution may have already been on Carolina’s roster.

Umanmielen played in a total of 16 regular-season games during his rookie season, as well as the playoff clash with the Los Angeles Rams. He finished with 20 regular-season stops (2 for losses), 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a forced fumbles. He also contributed on special teams with four tackles and a fumble recovery.

The 6’4”, 244-pound performer only saw 222 snaps on defense (22 percent) in 2025 but that will surely change this upcoming season. Keep in mind that in five collegiate campaigns at the University of Florida (4) and Ole Miss (1), Umanmielen racked up 38.0 sacks and four forced fumbles in 57 contests. That includes 13.5 sacks in his lone season with the Rebels.

The return of Jones, Phillips’ presence, as well as the pass-rushing skills of another free-agent addition, Devin Lloyd, are obviously major factors here. And some more playing time on defense for Umanmielen could add up to some big things for a Panthers’ defense desperate for a pass rush.