Football
The start of each football season brings hope to all 32 teams. Even the Cleveland Browns. That optimism can be shaken once injuries begin mounting. The Carolina Panthers may have already lost one of their most valuable players. And they could come calling the Pittsburgh Steelers for reinforcements.
Top pass rusher Nic Scourton tore his ACL during Carolina’s first training camp practice Thursday morning. Even before tests confirmed the news, all signs suggested a major injury. Beat reporters noted that Scourton couldn’t put weight on his leg while teammates hugged him as he was carted off to the team facility.
Hours later, Ian Rapoport confirmed Scourton’s right ACL was torn. He’ll seek a second opinion, but the odds of him returning at all this season are slim – and that’s being kind.
A second-round pick in 2025, Scourton tied for the Panthers’ lead with five sacks as a rookie. He was expected to take a significant step forward this year as a potent pass rusher. Now, the team will look elsewhere for help.
That could be Pittsburgh. Carolina has good reason to at least inquire about the Steelers’ Alex Highsmith. Nick Herbig’s $100 million offseason extension will keep him in Pittsburgh for the long haul, and it seems unlikely Pittsburgh will trade T.J. Watt. His status with the team, plus his age and contract, make that a non-starter. That leaves Highsmith as the most logical trade target for teams to call about, a point discussed post-Herbig deal and long before Scourton’s injury.
Highsmith’s connections to the region make the idea even more plausible. A North Carolina native, Highsmith stayed local and played his college ball at Charlotte.
“Wilmington is where I was born, so I want to give back to where I was raised,” Highsmith told Charlotte news station WCNC in February. “Charlotte means a lot to me and my wife. We met there. I played there for five years. And now Pittsburgh is home. All three of these cities hold a special place in my heart, and I wanted to be able to impact each one of them in some way. That’s really our mission.”
Highsmith’s foundation has done plenty of good in all three places, and he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots. Highsmith loves Pittsburgh, but if he were to be traded, the idea of going home would be attractive.
Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero held a virtual interview with the Steelers during Pittsburgh’s January head coaching search. Presumably, he got familiar with the roster and players like Highsmith.
Carolina signed Jaelan Phillips to a $120 million deal this offseason, and it’s fair to wonder if they want to take on another sizable contract. Still, paying Phillips, who had just five sacks last season, showed the Panthers are willing to be aggressive about spending on the position. Highsmith comes with a proven track record. He also isn’t a one-trick pony and is just as strong against the run as he is the pass.
None of this means the Steelers will or even should trade Highsmith. Pittsburgh seems intent on keeping its cupboard full of top pass rushers, especially given the group’s unreliable health. Still, there’s plenty of reason to think Carolina will call, which is all this article is about.
The Panthers are finally competitive, making the playoffs and nearly upsetting the Los Angeles Rams a year ago. Losing Scourton is a crushing blow, and there aren’t strong internal options to replace him. Carolina’s already made one roster move, but it hardly moves the needle.
Omar Khan’s always maintained a stance of keeping doors and options open, and he would likely listen to what Panthers GM Dan Morgan has to say.
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