By admin 
The Carolina Panthers suffered a devastating blow on the first day of training camp. Second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton suffered a serious injury and was carted off the field in tears.
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Scourton has already been placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL, so his 2026 season is over before it can even begin. This is an incredibly disappointing loss, as Scourton showed plenty of promise as a rookie and was headed for a major role in 2026.
The Panthers are trying to repeat as NFC South champions, so they’ll need to find a way to offset that loss. Today, let’s take a look at four possible options the Panthers could bring in to replace Scourton.
Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney is an obvious option. Clowney remains a free agent despite putting up 8.5 sacks for the Cowboys in just 13 games in 2025. The veteran played for the Panthers in 2024, and ended with 5.5 sacks, so he’s familiar with the system.
Clowney isn’t the elite talent he once was, but he proved last season that he can still be a useful rotational piece. The former top pick is also a South Carolina native, so another homecoming could interest him.
Haason Reddick
Speaking of former Panthers, how about another? Haason Reddick spent the 2021 season with the team and put up 11 sacks and 18 quarterback hits. The veteran has had a couple of down seasons in a row, however, which is why he’s still available.
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Reddick might not be a double-digit sack guy at this point, but he could still be a nice rotational piece in a place he’s been before.
Derek Barnett
It’s a bit surprising that nobody has taken a swing on Derek Barnett yet. The defender put up five sacks in 2024 and 2025 and, other than an injury-shortned 2022, has had multiple sacks in every season as a rotational player.
Barnett doesn’t have the most upside, but he’s a serviceable piece to throw into the edge rotation. The veteran has 50 starts under his belt, so he also adds plenty of experience.
Leonard Floyd
Leonard Floyd has become a journeyman after being a first-round pick of the Bears back in 2016. In 2025, Floyd started 15 games for the Falcons and ended with 3.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Floyd never lived up to his draft status, but he has had a couple of double-digit sack campaigns. Floyd played in the NFC South last year, so why not keep him in the division for one more?
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This story was originally published July 25, 2026 at 4:49 AM.