Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed that rookie pass rusher Nic Scourton suffered a collapsed lung during practice Thursday, an injury that will sideline the 20-year-old for an extended period.

Canales revealed the news to ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter, who reported Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the setback is “more serious than the team initially thought” and that Scourton is “expected to miss some time.”

Scourton, selected with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft , joined the Panthers after a standout career at Texas A&M and Purdue. His absence creates an immediate challenge for a defensive unit that invested heavily in young talent this offseason. The timeline for his recovery has not been disclosed.

Before arriving in Caroli

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