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NFL Preseason: Carolina Panthers’ Nic Scourton Suffers Collapsed Lung, Misses Sputtering Loss To Houston Texans At NRG Stadium

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NFL Preseason: Carolina Panthers’ Nic Scourton Suffers Collapsed Lung, Misses Sputtering Loss To Houston Texans At NRG Stadium

Carolina Panthers rookie outside linebacker Nic Scourton, a Texas native, fell ill during Thursday’s NFL joint practice in Houston.

Initially, medical personnel determined the rookie edge suffered from heat exhaustion. Coach Dave Canales pulled Scourton from the spirited practice with the Texans. Following a medical examination, he was diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

Scourton spend Thursday night at a Houston-area hospital and, with the aid of team staff and family members, was driven back to Charlotte, North Carolina, and did not attend the Panthers’ 20-3 loss in a preseason matchup at NRG Stadium.

“It was a very physical play,” Canales said, as reported by Panthers.com. “It was presenting like heat exhaustion, because he was having trouble breathing. He was getting tired and all that, so we kind of cooled him down we couldn’t get him to respond good enough to where we felt comfortable about putting him back into practice.”

Scourton earned his first professional sack in the preseason opener against the visiting Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8 by running more than 70 yards to push rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders out of bounds. He is listed as week-to-week, Canales said.

Rooke edge Princely Umanmielen, who is developing a friendly rivalry with his draftmate, recorded three tackles and a game-high two quarterback hits Saturday.

Bryce Young, Panthers’ First-Team Offense Sputters

At the start of training camp, Canales detailed his evolving strategy for utilizing a majority of his offensive and defensive starters.

For the first two games, including Saturday’s outing, the No. 1 units were expected to play two or three series or “eight to 12 plays,” the second-year coach said.

Against the Texans, Young engineered two three-and-out series, missing on both of his passing attempts and enduring a sack. The third-year starter also threw an interception that was called back because of a Texans’ penalty.

Young’s first-series, third-down pass over the middle was dropped by tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Canales went with Andy Dalton for the Panthers’ third possession.

Following Saturday’s uninspiring outing, will Canales alter his plans and play Young for at least one series versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason finale at Bank of America Stadium next Thursday?

Andy Dalton Hurt, Jack Plummer Erratic Versus Texans

Suddenly, the Panthers could be in the market for a veteran backup quarterback.

Dalton, who played one series, departed after his throw to rookie Tetairoa McMillan, who appeared to be breaking free deep. The pass fluttered at least 10 yards short. Dalton, 37, received medical attention, but returned to the sideline with a protective sleeve on his elbow.

Third-stringer Jack Plummer played the remainder of the game, completing 10 of 14 passes for 84 yards, but tossed two questionable interceptions.

The Panthers were 1-for-10 on third down.

Attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, should Canales be content with the current QB room?

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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