The Carolina Panthers suffered a potentially catastrophic setback on defense during the first day of training camp when second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton went down with a right knee injury and was later carted off the field.

Scourton was expected to be one of the team’s top breakout candidates going into his second season as a starting edge rusher opposite top free agent acquisition Jaelan Phillips. The extent of Scourton’s injury is still up in the air, but the initial concern is real.

“I don’t wanna speculate,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters after practice on Thursday. “I’m hoping for the best. We’ll just get the full imaging before we make any announcements that way.”

If the worst case scenario comes true for Scourton and he’s forced to miss extended time, the Panthers would suffer a major loss to the position off the edge.

“We got guys,” Canales added. “That’s why we keep bringing in depth and talent and different guys. Jaelan Phillips in that room, Pat Jones is back and Princely [Umanmielen] is coming along. We got a whole group of guys that we’re counting on. So if comes to that, we have guys that we trust and we’re gonna ask to do different things.”

Carolina Panthers plan to sign former OLB Cam Gill following Nic Scourton’s injury

Canales’ initial comments is coachspeak 101. After potentially losing a player to a serious injury, the first thing you do is reaffirm confidence in the players you have in the building. The actions the team decides to, or not to, make in the days following will mean more.

For example, the Panthers are already planning to bring back Cam Gill, who led the UFL with 10 sacks this year, according to Greg Auman. Gill appeared in 10 games for the Panthers during the 2024 season and is expected to rejoin the team on Friday.

It’s entirely possible that Canales feels content with the current players holding down the fort. If things change later in camp, the Panthers could seriously consider adding a more experienced veteran stopgap to the mix, such as a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney.

Could the Panthers also consider a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney after Nic Scourton’s injury?

Clowney started 14 games for the Panthers back in 2024, recording 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. He’s familiar with the staff, the scheme, and most of the starting talent on the defensive side of the ball. The reason the Panthers moved on from him in the first place after the 2024 season was to open more opportunities up for Scourton and Umanmielen.

“Really appreciate JD,” Canales stated in May of 2025. “Certainly, when you watch the 2024 film, he’s a guy that just gave everything that he had on the field. So we really appreciate that. And there was a lot of things—from a general cap space standpoint, and things going forward, and about opportunity.”

He’s certainly one external option still on the free agent market worth considering. However, the Panthers first will need to get the final word on the extent of Scourton’s injury and fully assess the talent they’re currently working with.