CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton, entering his second year in the league, was wheeled off the practice field on a cart after sustaining a right knee injury during the opening day of training camp Thursday.
Head coach Dave Canales confirmed Scourton would undergo an MRI to evaluate the injury, though he stopped short of drawing any conclusions about its severity.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Canales said. “I’m hoping for the best.”
Scourton went down late in practice on a wet field while the team was running drills. His teammates immediately surrounded him, dropping to one knee in a show of support.
With his hand covering his face, Scourton was helped onto the waiting cart. Before he was taken to the training room, the cart came to a stop — and Canales along with every single player on the roster walked over one by one to give him a hug.
“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.”
Scourton had a strong debut season with the Panthers, appearing in 17 games and making eight starts. He recorded 47 tackles, five sacks, and nine quarterback hits during that rookie campaign.
When asked how the team might manage if Scourton faces a lengthy absence, Canales expressed confidence in the roster’s depth.
“We’ve got depth,” Canales said. “That’s why we keep bringing in guys. … If it comes to that, we have guys that we trust.”
