Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton left the field on a cart after suffering a right knee injury on Thursday.
According to reports, Scourton was informed he suffered a torn ACL after imaging and tests performed not long after he was hurt. NFL Network reported Scourton is seeking a second opinion.
Scourton, a second-round pick in 2025, appeared to know the severity of the injury immediately in an emotional scene on the field.
Scourton, 21, was in tears and shielded his face from cameras
as the cart pulled away from the field. Before the cart departed, the entire team and head coach Dave Canales had a moment with him as practice was halted for the day.
"They care about each other," Canales said. "Whenever you're in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I'm proud of that."
In just his second season, Scourton was penciled in to start on the opposite side of Jaelan Phillips, acquired as a free agent in the offseason. As a rookie, Scourton appeared in 17 games (eight starts) and tallied 47 tackles (seven for loss), five sacks and a forced fumble.
Veteran Patrick Jones II and Princely Umanmielen, in his second season, could see game time in his absence.
"He has a super-high motor, has great energy," Panthers quarterback Bryce Young said after practice of Scourton. "He's fun to be around. He turns into that different competitor when he's on the field. We feel that during practice. He has raised the level of [intensity at] practice many times. We don't know anything yet (on the injury), but we're just praying for him."
--Field Level Media
