Despite steady growth one Panthers rookie is still aiming to cross a key goal off his bucket list going into Week 6
Could this finally be the week?
This 2025 season has been about development for the Carolina Panthers and with each passing week, more and more young players are getting opportunities to get on the field and show what they can bring for this franchise.
And with more opportunities, it means more chances to get better. It’s a smart decision to make for the long-term outlook of the team, even if fans would rather play more experienced veterans in hopes of generating more short-term success.
One player in particular who’s quickly rising into a major role in Carolina is second-round defensive end Nic Scourton. Through five games, Scourton has made two starts off the edge and played 60+ percent of the defensive snaps in each of the last three games.
“(He) really just, he works his butt off in practice, and he gives everything he has,” head coach Dave Canales said of Scourton prior to Week 4. “He’s taking the coaching and the principles. And is it perfect? No, but he learns lessons; he continues to stack lessons.”
What Scourton hasn’t been able to stack, at least not yet, is sacks on the stat sheet.
Panthers rookie Nic Scourton is still chasing his first career sack entering Week 6
“Just rough,” Scourton said about his elusive first sack. “It’s just rough. I think I just gotta be better, redirect better, make the most of my opportunities.”
Truthfully, Scourton is getting pretty darn close to getting his first one. Through five games, Scourton has five total pressures on the quarterback and got super close to bring down Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Week 5.
It was a third-and-five play right after the two minute warning in the first-half. Scourton bounced inside after the snap and had a free lane between the center and right guard. However, Tagovailoa sidestepped to his right, avoided the pressure from Scourton and was ultimately brought down by defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson.
But, kudos for Scourton. His pressure led to the sack and if not for the center getting in his way, his relentless motor could have led to a half sack on the final stat sheet.
Watching him play, it’s clear this elusive first sack will be had sooner than later. Fellow rookie defensive end Princely Umanmielen notched his first career sack in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals and while Umanmielen didn’t rub it in to Scourton, it still stings in a competitive way.
Overall, you can see the pieces starting to align for this entire defense and it’s being fueled by the play of the front seven. When the Panthers face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the team will need the unit step up even more against a veteran quarterback in Dak Prescott, who’s playing some of the best football of his career this season.
Seeing Scourton finally notch his first sack on Sunday would be icing on the cake for the unit and I’m sure everyone would be fired up if/when that moment happens.
Carolina Panthers News
‘I was about to cry’ — Dave Canales’ postgame comments made one thing clear when it comes to Panthers’ WR Xavier Legette
A much-needed bounce back moment for the young playmaker.
