Now that starting outside linebacker Nic Scourton will be out for the entirety of the upcoming season, the Carolina Panthers will look for the next man up off the edge. And that man, according to head coach Dave Canales, could be another second-year pass rusher.
On Thursday, Scourton was carted off from the very first outing of training camp after sustaining an ACL tear in his right knee. Canales began his post-practice press conference on Friday by hinting towards the outlook sans Scourton, and told reporters that Princely Umanmielen will be asked to "step up into a major role."
He would later expand on that statement.
"Really, just the complete outside linebacker in our scheme can be out there and first and second down, play stout against the run
and then transition into a pass rusher on play pass—and certainly in those known pass situations—third down, two-minute drill," Canales added of Umanmielen.
"Just wanting him to continue to hone in his craft. He's got such great ability, he's got length, he's got bend, he's got speed, he finishes at the quarterback in his past, in his history. Just wanting him to continue to show that every single day and walk into a role."
That history for Umanmielen included 10.5 sacks at Ole Miss during his final collegiate campaign in 2024. He also, the year prior, posted 7.5 sacks at the University of Florida.
Scourton and Umanmielen would be selected by the Panthers on the same night of the 2025 NFL Draft. The former—their second-rounder—went on to tie for a team-leading 5.0 sacks.
Meanwhile, the latter—their third-rounder—saw limited work as a rookie. Umanmielen ended his first NFL season with 1.5 sacks and 10 pressures while playing in just 22 percent of Carolina's defensive snaps.
With Scourton shelved, that number is very likely to increase in 2026. And if Umanmielen continues his development into more complete edge defender, as suggested by Canales, then his numbers in the box score should go up as well.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers expect 2nd-year OLB to step up in 'major role' sans Nic Scourton
