A key piece of the Carolina Panthers defense will miss a sizable chunk of the season, as head coach Dave Canales recently announced second-round pick Nic Scourton suffered a collapsed lung. Selected to bring some youth to an untested group of edge rushers, the Texas A&M product reportedly impressed throughout the offseason and made the team feel confident enough to release veteran Jadeveon Clowney.
Now, Carolina might revisit Clowney, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Scourton’s lung injury is “more serious than the team initially thought.” Schefter adds that the rookie will miss “some time,” and the vagueness of that report does not bode well for Scourton’s future.
The Panthers improved the roster over the past few months, but edge defender was still a major need even before Nic Scourton suffered his lung injury. If he will miss more than a month of action, Carolina should try and reunite with Clowney, who could very well be the best edge rusher remaining on the open market.
Panthers Should Re-Sign Jadeveon Clowney After Nic Scourton Injury
Jadeveon Clowney didn’t set the world on fire during his lone season in Carolina, but he was far from the weakest link on the Panthers defensive line. Starting and appearing in 14 games, the former first-overall pick finished the season with 5.5 sacks, 46 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 11 quarterback hits. He didn’t justify his two-year contract, but he proved he could still be an adequate starter or high-end rotational piece.
That is exactly what Carolina needs to weather the Nic Scourton injury. While nobody expects this team to win the Super Bowl, the Panthers could compete for the division crown with their revamped defense and the anticipated growth from third-year quarterback Bryce Young. If Clowney is willing to return on a more modest contract, the veteran could re-establish his value and earn more money in the 2026 offseason.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – Imagn Images
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