CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When all 90 Carolina Panthers players formed a line to console Nic Scourton on Thursday after his devastating injury on the first day of training camp, the moment hit home for Pat Jones in particular.

Jones, an outside linebacker like Scourton, dealt with his own season-ending injury in his first year with Carolina in 2025. Jones endured “a lot of dark times” while missing the final 13 games after a back procedure.

Unlike Scourton, who covered his face with his jersey as he was carted off the field, Jones was overcome with emotion when he returned to the practice fields in May.

“When I first came back out here, I damn near almost cried. I went on the ground, took a knee and just started praying,” Jones said. “Because stuff like that, when it gets taken from you (and) you think it’s gone, it really hurt.”

The Panthers were still hurting Friday, when Scourton was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL in his right knee. A year after tying for the team lead in sacks (five) while becoming the rare rookie to emerge as a team leader, Scourton’s second season ended in July.

“Just a horrible loss for us,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “As a young guy to be able to be a leader because of how he represents himself.”

Canales paused practice Thursday so he and his players could console Scourton before he headed to the locker room. But time waits for no one in the NFL. So on Friday the Panthers signed outside linebacker Cam Gill, a journeyman who spent part of the 2024 season in Charlotte.

Gill, who led the UFL with 10 sacks in the spring, picked up a sack during a two-minute drill near the end of Friday’s practice. “Guy we’ve had in the past. Had a fantastic season in the UFL,” Canales said. “Just great to have guys that we know (and) know us. Helps out on special teams.”

Gill and other backups such as Thomas Incoom and Trevis Gipson can provide pass rushing depth. And Jaelan Phillips’ role won’t change in the wake of Scourton’s injury. The Panthers are banking on the former first-round pick to supply consistent pressure after giving Phillips the most lucrative contract (four years, $120 million) in team history.

But it’s two other players who will be counted on to fill the void opposite Phillips with Scourton out — Jones and Princely Umanmielen, a third-round pick who was mostly a non-factor during a rookie season in which he finished with 1.5 sacks while playing an average of 13 defensive snaps a game.

Canales wants to see the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Umanmielen become more dependable against the run, while flashing more of the pass-rush potential he displayed during a 10.5-sack season at Ole Miss in 2024.

“He’s got such great ability,” Canales said. “He’s got length. He’s got bend. He’s got speed. He finishes at the quarterback in his past, in his history. And just wanting him to continue to show that every single day and lock into a role. He’s gonna be able to push that group, and I can’t wait to see what he does.”

Jones is eager to show what he can do after his first season with the Panthers was cut short after four games. After playing behind some proven pass rushers (Danielle Hunter, Za’Darius Smith) in Minnesota, Jones signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Carolina in 2025 as a replacement for Jadeveon Clowney.

Jones was a Week 1 starter and had a sack in a win over the Miami Dolphins two weeks later. He tried to play through discomfort in his lower back heading into the Dallas Cowboys game, and was in more pain afterward.

Tests revealed a herniated disk, which impacted nerves in Jones’ back and caused numbness in his leg. He underwent surgery to alleviate the problem, then spent the rest of the season doing rehab and strength work.

“It was definitely a long journey, longer than I thought. It was really hard, a lot of dark times,” Jones said Friday. “I just leaned on God, definitely got me through.”

Jones said being around teammates and coaches helped his mindset during his recovery. On game days, Jones would arrive at Bank of America Stadium in the morning and hole up in the weight room.

“I’d work my ass off. I’d be in there for like two, three hours really just working,” he said. “People would see me in there working. I really just had to get that pain off me.”

During the week, Jones would usually work out twice a day. And while the 6-4 Jones is at his same playing weight of 260 pounds, he said he changed his body composition and reported to camp the strongest he’s been in six NFL seasons.

Jones is physical enough to set the edge in the run game, and versatile enough to slide inside on passing downs to take advantage of favorable pass-rushing matchups.

“Pat’s got versatility,” Canales said. “He can play first and second down, but he also has inside and outside rush ability on third (down) and in known pass situations. It’s something he’s done for a while in his career. That’s really valuable. Pat will be out there. It’s just a question of how we mix in the rest of the group.”

Jones, who had seven sacks in his final season with the Vikings, spoke to Scourton on Friday.

Speaking from experience — and gratitude — Jones told him to make sure he built himself back up mentally and physically.

“Feels good to be out here,” he said. “Gives me a brand-new perspective on how I look at the game, how much I appreciate it a lot more and just try to give my all.”

PHILADELPHIA — In the offseason, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone would tell anyone who’d listen about his belief in Brent Headrick. The left-hander pitched only 23 innings last season and spent more time in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre than New York, but there was no doubt in Boone’s mind: Headrick was going to pitch for the Yankees in 2026.

That he has. Only one pitcher has appeared in more games this season than Headrick, who made his 52nd appearance on Friday night. And for the 44th time this year, he did not allow a run, a tally that leads MLB.

Boone’s offseason premonition was right. Headrick has turned out to be a godsend for the Yankees.

“I think he’s on the short list of guys that have been the best in the game that aren’t the full-time closer,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Headrick has the third-highest fWAR among all relievers who are not full-time closers. The only non-closers who have been better than him are Atlanta Braves lefty Dylan Lee and San Diego Padres lefty Adrian Morejon, who is an intriguing trade candidate for the Yankees.

On Friday, Headrick entered in the eighth inning in relief of Cam Schlittler with two on and one out. He allowed a single to load the bases for Philadelphia’s top of the order, then induced a lineout from Trea Turner and a Kyle Schwarber groundout to escape the jam.

“You love to be in those situations,” Headrick said. “Any time my name’s called, I’m gonna give everything I have. I think it’s important to go out there with that same mentality every time. Guys on, guys not on, doesn’t matter.”

Cam Schlittler struck out 12, the second-highest total in his 22 career starts. (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

Headrick helped preserve a brilliant outing from Schlittler, who went 7 1/3 innings and struck out 12 batters in 99 pitches. Schlittler is continuing on a path to potentially becoming the American League Cy Young Award winner, as he lowered his ERA to 2.07 after his scoreless start against the Phillies.

“He’s saved me plenty of times this season,” Schlittler said of Headrick. “He’s been amazing. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”

Headrick’s emergence has turned into another major win for the Yankees’ scouting department. The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Minnesota Twins just before spring training last season. Headrick missed most of the 2024 season with injuries before the Twins designated the former starting pitcher for assignment. He quickly emerged as an intriguing pitcher in Yankees camp.

With the Twins, Headrick’s four-seam fastball averaged in the low-90s. He had serious command problems but still posted encouraging strikeout numbers that suggested his potential. Last spring, under the Yankees’ guidance, Headrick’s fastball jumped 2 mph and his walk rate dropped considerably. Those two differences have catapulted him to the top of Boone’s trust tree.

Aaron Boone summons Brent Headrick in the eighth. It was Headrick’s 52nd appearance, which is tied for second in the majors. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

The 28-year-old is on pace to become only the fifth Yankees pitcher to appear in at least 80 games. The last reliever to make that many appearances for the club was Boone Logan in 2012. Because of Headrick’s effectiveness, the Yankees have leaned on him heavily, especially over the past few weeks amid a drought for their offense.

But coming into the year, the Yankees did plan for Headrick to have a higher workload. Over the winter, the club told Headrick his workout plan would be higher intensity and a higher frequency to prepare him for shorter outings.

“We wanted him to do this,” Yankees bullpen coach Preston Claiborne said.

Headrick, David Bednar, Fernando Cruz and Paul Blackburn have been the key reasons the Yankees’ bullpen leads the majors with a 3.04 ERA. And the pen could get even better in the coming days before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, as the Yankees would love to add at least one more high-leverage reliever, according to a source briefed on the club’s plans who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Coming into the season, many doubted the quality of the Yankees’ bullpen. But Headrick’s emergence as a high-end reliever has lessened the need for Camilo Doval, who was thought to be the No. 2 option at the start of the year. Instead, it’s Headrick.

The Yankees needed someone to rise to the moment, and to a degree even his manager could not have expected, it’s been a relatively obscure waiver claim from last season.

DETROIT — After another week of comments, controversy and consternation, Tarik Skubal ran onto the mound Friday to cheers from a rowdy Comerica Park crowd.

Later, after 7 1/3 innings of dominant baseball, Skubal strutted off the field to an even louder standing ovation.

The way Skubal pitched offered a clear reminder of why he is the most coveted player in the lead-up to this year’s trade deadline. His team’s 2-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals also reinforced the Tigers’ bid to keep Skubal and take their shot with the American League’s best pitcher leading their charge.

In more ways than most of us will ever understand, that ovation must have felt good after all the drama that has surrounded Skubal in the months, weeks and days leading up to Friday night’s start. He has both captivated Detroit fans and, to some, also pitched long enough to become a villain. The Skubal experience has been enthralling and exhausting. But Skubal’s final line — 7 1/3 innings, four hits, one run, two walks and 12 strikeouts on an efficient 91 pitches  — did the most important talking on this summer Friday night.

“You don’t take those things for granted when your fan base gets on their feet and gives you a standing ovation,” Skubal said. “And they’ve done it when I haven’t pitched well, either. I think they just appreciate me, and I think that’s special.”

For Skubal — who on Friday said, “Why would I care about the opinions of people I don’t take advice from?” — the mound provides both refuge and clarity. When Skubal is on like he was on this night, there is no ambiguity, no misunderstanding. He controls games and bullies opponents like few in this sport can. He is one of baseball’s most dominant in terms of results and also one of its most ferocious in terms of swagger.

Tarik Skubal got a standing ovation on Friday night in Detroit. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

In even perhaps his best game of the season, Skubal found himself in bits of trouble. Those instances only helped highlight his mastery. In the third inning, the Royals bunted runners over to second and third with one out. Skubal entered strikeout mode. As if on command, the lefty struck out Carter Jensen on three fastballs and then sent Lane Thomas flailing at a changeup for another punchout. Inning over, Skubal flexed and let out one of his patented primal roars.

“When he gets this way, he doesn’t waver,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He don’t panic. He doesn’t stress. He tries to lock in even further. The bar for him is so high, and he continues to reach it.”

Moments like that third-inning sequence prove why Skubal is so valuable. That is the weapon other teams are trying to acquire. That is the commanding nature the Tigers simply would not be the same without.

“He’s really good,” Hinch said. “I keep saying it over and over again. Who wouldn’t value his impact on our team or anybody’s team?”

On the back of Skubal’s performance, another larger theme came into focus. The Tigers have a 28-16 record since June 1. Although they finished play 3 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, their playoff hopes are gaining steam with every victory. Their pursuit of the postseason is still an against-the-odds push. But this was a team originally built to win, forged on Skubal’s talents and the help of others who lifted the Tigers to back-to-back postseason berths. This year was supposed to be their best roster.

Despite the miserable May that cast their season into the wilderness, the ability is still there. Dillon Dingler and Kevin McGonigle currently rank third and seventh, respectively, among all MLB position players in fWAR.

“This is the team that I knew we had coming into spring,” Skubal said. “I had never been more excited coming into camp to start a season. Obviously, I had to take some time off with the surgery, but I was motivated to get back as fast as possible and try to right the ship. We’re doing that. We’re playing really good baseball, and we have an opportunity to win a series tomorrow.”

Tarik Skubal can control games and bully opponents like few in this sport can. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Hinch in recent days has recycled the same lines, if only because they are apt descriptors of where the Tigers stand. Detroit is a good team with a bad record. And every game feels like a Game 7.

“I know you guys are tired of the same quote, but I don’t know where else to go with it,” Hinch said. “I’m not surprised. We’re a good team. We got to keep chipping away at this because we’re not even back to .500 yet.”

The Tigers (50-54) have started winning thanks to a roster that has finally gotten healthy. But they have also found contributions from surprise sources, seemingly on a nightly basis. Rookie infielder Hao-Yu Lee hit a three-run home run to help beat the Cubs a few nights ago. James Outman, once a stellar Dodgers rookie turned struggling journeyman, hit a three-run home run that fell into what he called “the hand of God” just above the right-field wall Thursday night.

Friday, even smaller moments contributed to the one-run victory. Lee drove in another precious run. And rookie right-fielder Ben Malgeri put a relay throw on the money to hold Nick Loftin at third base in the seventh inning.

“That’s a huge f—’ play,” Skubal said. “That’s going to go (overlooked), but it’s a big play because it gives me an opportunity to get ahead and get the next guy out.”

Of course, even Skubal’s postgame media session featured bigger questions about both the present and future. This time, he mostly avoided the trappings of the content machine.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not really going to respond to that,” he said when asked if fans have been too critical of him.

Skubal has said he wants to stay with the Tigers for the rest of this season and chase a World Series. Asked if he wants to be in Detroit next year, Skubal said only, “I’m focused on this year, and that’s how I’ll handle that stuff.”

The Tigers have eight more games before MLB’s Aug. 3 trade deadline. Eight more chances to prove their worth and build a case for president of baseball operations Scott Harris to keep Skubal and others.

It is hard to know what will happen. Hard to know what should happen. But watch Skubal pitch, and it’s clear why every contending team should want him. It’s also evident why the Tigers are taking all the time they can before making such a decision.

Skubal is scheduled to pitch again on Wednesday.

“Every win matters a lot right now,” Skubal said, “and hopefully the decision-makers see the type of club we have.”