The Carolina Panthers can’t seem to catch a break. Rookie pass rusher Nic Scourton, who was originally said to be suffering from heat exhaustion after Thursday’s practice, has now been said to have suffered a collapsed lung.
"It was presenting like a heat exhaustion, because he was having trouble breathing. He was getting tired and all that, so we kind of cooled him down we couldn't get him to respond good enough to where we felt comfortable about putting him back into practice,” said Canales.
This is a devastating setback for Carolina’s defense, which was already thin on pass-rushing options following a rough 2024 campaign.
The Panthers were banking on Scourton, their high-profile rookie, to help revive a defensive front that struggled to generate pressure last season.
With Scourton dealing with this, the Panthers will now have to lean on fellow rookie Princely Umanmielen to aid Patrick Jones II, DJ Wonnum, and Derrick Brown in the pass rush.
At this time, there’s no update on Scourton’s recovery timeline. The Panthers will undoubtedly prioritize his health before even considering a return to the field.
A collapsed lung is a serious medical condition, and the team will not rush one of their most promising young stars back into action.
For a franchise desperate for some positive momentum, this latest injury news is another gut punch.