Rookie outside linebacker Nic Scourton returned to the practice field Monday after being hospitalized last week in Houston with a collapsed lung. The Carolina Panthers’ second-round pick was initially thought to be suffering from heat-related symptoms during a joint practice with the Houston Texans, but further evaluation by team medical staff at the hotel revealed a more serious condition.
Scourton was taken to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and spent Thursday night under observation. On Friday, he traveled back to Charlotte accompanied by his family and a member of the team’s athletic training staff, making the 17-hour trip in an SUV.
Many teammates were unaware of the severity of Scourton’s condition until after he had already left for home. By Monday afternoon, however, he was seen running on the side during practice—though not at full speed—wearing shorts, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and a GPS harness.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales commented on Scourton’s recovery: “Huge improvement,” Canales said when asked about Scourton’s condition. “Significant improvement, he was actually running today,” Canales added. “They were monitoring really closely, checking his oxygen levels, everything.”
Canales noted that while Scourton would not play in Thursday’s preseason finale, his progress has been encouraging. “Huge improvements. That guy’s 20 years old, so he he bounced back pretty quick. The hope is to just continue to just progressing daily and get him more and more work.”
The incident has highlighted both the unpredictable nature of football injuries and the importance of thorough medical evaluations for players’ safety.
