The Carolina Panthers defense sustained a major setback on the first day of training camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. Second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton went down on a wet field late during team drills, suffering a torn ACL in his right knee, according to NFL Network reporters Ian Rapoport and Cameron Wolfe.
Nic Scourton Suffers Torn ACL on Opening Day of Training Camp
Scourton appeared to be engaged in a block with an offensive lineman when the injury occurred. Quarterback Bryce Young was near the play, though he noted he did not see the exact moment the linebacker went down. Teammates immediately gathered around Scourton on one knee as he held his hand over his face before being led to an awaiting cart.
“They care about each other. Whenever you’re in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I’m proud of that.”
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers head coach
As the cart prepared to leave the field, head coach Dave Canales and every player on the roster individually walked over to hug or console Scourton before he was taken to the training room. General manager Dan Morgan told reporters, I’m just sick about it,
reflecting the sentiment of the entire franchise.
Panthers Place Scourton on Injured Reserve and Add UFL Standout Cam Gill
Following the injury, the Panthers placed Scourton on injured reserve on Friday, July 24, 2026. The 21-year-old pass rusher was expected to serve as a primary contributor opposite free-agent addition Jaelan Phillips, whom Carolina signed in the offseason to a four-year, $120 million contract.
Scourton is set to seek a second opinion on the knee. Last season, the 2025 second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M played in 17 games with eight starts, recording 47 tackles, five sacks, and seven tackles for loss, tying for the team sack lead while helping anchor the NFL’s 15th-ranked defense.
To address the sudden vacancy in the front seven, Carolina signed outside linebacker Cam Gill. Gill previously played 10 games for the Panthers in 2024, totaling 22 tackles. He spent the most recent season with the UFL’s Louisville Kings, where he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 10 sacks.
Early Training Camp Injuries Mount for Carolina
The loss of Scourton compounds an already difficult start to training camp for the Panthers, who are dealing with multiple injuries across key positional groups. Right tackle Taylor Moton was sidelined after a blood clot was discovered in his lungs. Meanwhile, left tackle Ickey Ekwonu continues his recovery from a torn patellar tendon sustained during last season’s wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Defensive concerns extend further down the roster. Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn sat out practice with a foot laceration, while defensive tackles Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown missed time due to a neck issue and hamstring injury, respectively. In addition, guard Robert Hunt and cornerback Mike Jackson missed Friday’s practice due to back tightness, according to Canales.
Worth a look
