What happened: Nic Scourton tore his ACL during team drills at Thursday's practice, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, ending his 2026 season. The Athletic's Joseph Person reported Scourton was carted off after trainers examined his right knee on the field.
Why it matters: Carolina used the No. 51 overall pick on Scourton in the 2025 draft, and he started eight of 17 games as a rookie. The Panthers have already turned to free agent Cam Gill, the reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year, to fill the vacancy.
By the numbers: In 2025, Scourton posted 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, one pass defended and a forced fumble across 17 games.
What to watch: Carolina opens training camp needing outside linebacker depth behind Gill as Scourton's rehab begins.