Panthers OLB Nic Scourton Suffers Torn ACL

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.

The Panthers’ other edge rushers include Trevis Gipson, Nick Hampton, and Thomas Incoom – a thin group that could use some veteran depth. Carolina could look into a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney, who is fielding interest from multiple teams; other top options include Kyle Van Noy and Haason Reddick.

The team is making one immediate move following Scourton’s injury. 28-year-old outside linebacker Cam Gill, who led the UFL with 10 sacks this year is expected to re-sign with the Panthers on Friday, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. Gill appeared in 10 games in Carolina in 2024 with a rotational role on defense and a core role on special teams. He previously spent three years with the Buccaneers.