Patrick

Jones

Scourton will reportedly seek a second opinion, but if the ACL tear is confirmed, he will have surgery in the coming weeks. Scourton tied for a team-high five sacks as a rookie last season, while ranking second in quarterback pressures (36). Hopefully, a full year of rehab can help him return to form in 2027. Panthers EDGEs Patrick Jones and Princely Umanmielen could compete for the starting role with Scourton sidelined.

Per Canales, Jones’ injury requires surgery. He will be placed on injured reserve this week. The Panthers signed Jones to a two-year deal this offseason after his rookie deal in Minnesota came to an end. He appeared in four games with Carolina and logged one sack with 10 pressures.

The Vikings drafted Jones in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was deployed as a part-time defensive end and a special teamer throughout his rookie contract, being credited with just five starts over four years. Even in a limited role, Jones broke out last year with seven sacks. His contract, worth “up to” $20 million, signals that the Panthers will utilize him in a larger role going forward.

Jones teamed up with fellow NFL Draft class of 2021 teammates Rashad Weaver and Jaylen Twyman to comprise one of the most fearsome defensive lines in the country the past two years. The Chesapeake, VA product enrolled at Pitt as a three-star recruit, playing sparingly until the 2018 Sun Bowl against Stanford when he posted five tackles, two tackles for losses, one sack, and a forced fumble. He established himself as an accomplished pass rusher, recording 62 pressures and 8.5 sacks on the way to second-team All-ACC status. His long, sleek frame is well suited to the mechanics of the edge position, and Jones has a few arrows in his quiver when it comes to pass rushing moves. Though very productive in college, he had a dreadful 1-for-9 win rate in Senior Bowl 1-on-1 drills, getting exposed against high level competition during the week long session. He ran a respectable 4.8 40-yard dash with a strong 1.58 second 10-yard split that ranks in the top 98 percentile of defensive ends and his overall RAS of 6.33 was a commendable mark. Jones projects as a 4-3 defensive end where he can be let loose to get after the passer in a manner similar to Mathias Kiwanuka.