TheCarolina Panthersmay start the regular season without one of their top draft picks on defense. Panthershead coach Dave Canales said Saturday, Aug. 16, that second-round pickNic Scourtonsuffered a collapsed lung during practice Thursday ahead of Carolina's preseason game against theHouston Texans. Scourton was initially diagnosed with heat-related symptoms after practice. "It was presenting like heat exhaustion because he was having trouble breathing so we kind of cooled him down,"Canales said. "We couldn't get him to respond good enough to where we felt comfortable about putting him back into practice ... The symptoms grew after practice, so we checked him into the hospital." Dave Canales details the steps the#Pantherstraining staff took while initially treating Nic Scourton for what they thought was a heat-related illness, later to be confirmed as a collapsed lung@WCNC|#NFLpic.twitter.com/JQqth66Z3z — Danielle Stein (@Danielle_Stein9)August 16, 2025 How did Dillon Gabriel play today?Grading Browns rookie QB vs. Eagles Key word for Cam Ward?Patience. The Titans still have a long way to go He was later diagnosed with a collapsed lung. He's on his way back to Charlotte, North Carolina while the team remained in Houston for its game against theTexans. Houstonwon 20-3. "We'll keep evaluating him," Canales said. "I don't really know the timeline, it's really week-to-week with those types of things. I've heard from the trainers and different coaches where a guy played the next week but, you know, we got to be smart with that one." Carolina selected Scourton in the second round, No. 51 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He was the second edge rusher from the school selected in the draft following fellow Aggies prospectShemar Stewart, who theCincinnati Bengalsselected No. 17 overall. He's also one of four draft picks by the Panthers on defense as they look to improve what was the worst unit in the league by points, total yards and rushing yards allowed in 2024. Scourton had two tackles and a sack in the Panthers' preseason opener against theCleveland Browns. 'Imagine if this falls apart':Eagles GM reveals how AJ Brown trade nearly fell apart during 2022 NFL Draft Carolina lists Scourton as an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's scheme. Though he wasn't expected to start right away, he'd likely see lots of work early on as a rotational rusher. Here's how the depth chart looks as the Panthers head home after the loss to Houston: Pat Jones II D.J. Wonnum Princely Umanmielen Nic Scourton Thomas Incoom DJ Johnson Boogie Basham J.J. Weaver Carolina's down to its final preseason game as we inch closer to the start of the regular season. Cleveland30-10Carolina Houston20-3Carolina Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. ET This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Panthers rookie Nic Scourton has collapsed lung, is week-to-week