Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton left the field on a cart after suffering a right knee injury on Thursday.

According to reports, Scourton was informed he suffered a torn ACL after imaging and tests performed not long after he was hurt. NFL Network reported Scourton is seeking a second opinion.

Scourton, a second-round pick in 2025, appeared to know the severity of the injury immediately in an emotional scene on the field.

Scourton, 21, was in tears and shielded his face from cameras as the cart pulled away from the field. Before the cart departed, the entire team and head coach Dave Canales had a moment with him as practice was halted for the day.

“They care about each other,” Canales said. “Whenever you’re in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I’m proud of that.”

In just his second season, Scourton was penciled in to start on the opposite side of Jaelan Phillips, acquired as a free agent in the offseason. As a rookie, Scourton appeared in 17 games (eight starts) and tallied 47 tackles (seven for loss), five sacks and a forced fumble.

Veteran Patrick Jones II and Princely Umanmielen, in his second season, could see game time in his absence.

“He has a super-high motor, has great energy,” Panthers quarterback Bryce Young said after practice of Scourton. “He’s fun to be around. He turns into that different competitor when he’s on the field. We feel that during practice. He has raised the level of [intensity at] practice many times. We don’t know anything yet (on the injury), but we’re just praying for him.”

–Field Level Media

Ravens rookie quarterback Diego Pavia was waived on Thursday to clear a roster spot for Baltimore to sign veteran offensive lineman Ethan Pocic.

Undrafted out of Vanderbilt, Pavia was signed by the Ravens as a free agent in April with a three-year, $3.1 million contract.

Pavia, 24, led Vanderbilt to its first season with double-digit wins and was the runner-up to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the 2025 Heisman Trophy while winning the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award. He had 39 total touchdowns (29 TD passes) and only eight interceptions in 2025.

A fiery competitor, Pavia was highly productive against SEC opponents but wasn’t a highly rated draft prospect because of his height. He measured at just 5-foot-10-1/8 at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he opted not to participate in athletic testing and timing. He did work out in position-specific drills with the quarterbacks.

Behind starter Lamar Jackson, the Ravens list veterans Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson as their backups. The Ravens also signed 25-year-old rookie Joe Fagnano (UConn) as an undrafted free agent in April.

If Pavia goes unclaimed on waivers, he will become a free agent open to sign with any team.

Another option could be heading north to the CFL. His negotiating rights are held by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

–Field Level Media

Shane Bieber pitched a strong seven innings Thursday afternoon and the host Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.

Bieber (2-1) allowed one run, three hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Louis Varland pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 21st save as the Blue Jays salvaged the finale of the four-game series.

George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and one RBI each for Toronto, which completed a 2-5 homestand. Yandy Diaz drove in the lone run for the Rays, who finished a 3-5 road trip.

Tampa Bay opener Casey Legumina allowed a first-inning run. Ernie Clement singled with two out, took second when Springer walked and scampered home when Junior Caminero bobbled Alejandro Kirk’s squibber to third that was scored as a hit.

Bieber retired his first eight batters before Hunter Feduccia doubled to right with two out in the third. Diaz stroked an RBI single to right, though a confused Feduccia stopped briefly after rounding third base before continuing home.

The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead against bulk starter Ian Seymour (6-3) in their third. Yohendrick Pinango led off with a double to center and barely beat the throw to second. Springer delivered a two-out RBI single to left.

Seymour worked around Springer’s leadoff double in the sixth.

Toronto added a run in the seventh. Myles Straw walked with one out, stole second and beat the high throw home from Victor Mesa Jr. on Guerrero’s two-out single to right.

Tyler Rogers replaced Bieber and pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout to set up Varland.

Seymour allowed two runs, five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Toronto recalled Davis Schneider from Triple-A Buffalo and he started in left field on Thursday, going 0-for-2 with a walk. Sean Keys was optioned to Buffalo.

Toronto put left-hander Patrick Corbin (left teres major strain) on the injured list and recalled left-hander Adam Macko from Buffalo.

–Field Level Media