Panthers defense takes major hit as star pass rusher suffers major injury on first day of camp: reports

The Carolina Panthers defence suffered a crushing stroke connected the archetypal time of grooming camp.

Second-year extracurricular linebacker Nic Scourton tore his ACL during squad drills connected Thursday, according to aggregate reports. The 21-year-old had a beardown rookie play and was expected to beryllium a cardinal contributor to the defense.

"I'm conscionable sick astir it," Panthers wide manager Dan Morgan said Thursday night.

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Carolina Panthers linebacker Nic Scourton walks to the NFL team's grooming campy Thursday, July 23, 2026, successful Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

In 17 games past season, the 2025 second-round draught prime started eight. He recorded 47 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 7 tackles for loss.

The Panthers signed prima borderline rusher Jaelan Phillips successful the offseason to a four-year, $120 cardinal contract, with the hopes of pairing him alongside Scourton to signifier a beardown pass-rushing duo.

Scourton volition reportedly beryllium placed connected injured reserve and volition question a 2nd sentiment connected the injury.

The erstwhile Texas A&M prima went down connected a bedewed tract precocious successful signifier during squad drills. Players instantly gathered astir him connected 1 knee.

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Carolina Panthers extracurricular linebacker Nic Scourton reacts aft a play successful the 4th fourth against the Atlanta Falcons astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

Scourton held his manus implicit his look arsenic helium was led into a waiting cart.

As helium was leaving the field, the cart stopped and caput manager Dave Canales and each subordinate connected the roster individually walked implicit to hug Scourton earlier helium was taken to the grooming room.

"They attraction astir each other," Panthers manager Dave Canales said. "Whenever you’re successful a radical of radical doing thing hard together, it has a mode of creating a peculiar bond. Between each the workouts and going done a afloat play and an offseason and each that, it means thing to the guys. I’m arrogant of that."

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Buffalo Bills backmost Josh Allen scrambles against Carolina Panthers linebacker Nic Scourton during the archetypal fractional astatine Bank of America Stadium successful Charlotte, N.C., connected Oct. 26, 2025. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

It whitethorn beryllium aboriginal successful grooming camp, but the Panthers already person been deed hard by injuries to cardinal players.

Panthers close tackle Taylor Moton is retired aft a humor clot was discovered successful his lungs. With near tackle Ickey Ekwonu inactive recovering from a torn patellar tendon successful his genu helium suffered successful past season's wild-card playoff nonaccomplishment to the Los Angeles Rams, the Panthers volition statesman the play with some starting tackles connected the sideline.

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Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn is dealing with a ft laceration and did not signifier Thursday. Defensive tackles Tershawn Wharton (neck) and Bobby Brown (hamstring) were besides out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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