CHARLOTTE — The hour between the end of the Panthers' practice and daily meetings is a time to reset. It's when players come in, cool off, and clean up from their work on the field, and rest their brains before an afternoon of tape study.

Some guys use the time to catch up with family while teammates handle media obligations. Others play a card game. Every now and then, you catch a guy like Bobby Brown III taking a quick catnap. It's an hour built in to give guys a mental break in an otherwise packed day.

Nic Scourton knows he doesn't have time for any breaks, though.

With outside linebacker Patrick Jones II missing his second day of practice due to a hamstring injury suffered Sunday against the Cardinals, Scourton took a significant number of more snaps in practice. And while Jones' status for Sunday against the Falcons is still unknown, Scourton is preparing as if he will be asked to play much more than the 22 defensive snaps he played last week.

"This is my first time doing this, and I'm just trying to figure out what works best for me, what's the best way to attack the game, and you know I'm still figuring that out," said Scourton.

So while teammates milled about during that down hour, Scourton grabbed his iPad and crossed over to D.J. Wonnum's locker, sat on the floor at Wonnum's feet, and picked the veteran pass-rusher's brain as they watched film.

"D.J., just taking me under his wing and just being there for me, you know, I mean it's stressful," admitted Scourton. "Starter goes down, next man up, you know what I mean."

Scourton, a Texas A&M product the Panthers drafted in the second round of this year's draft, has played in 40 total snaps through the first two games, as well as nine on special teams. If he is asked to take on Jones' snaps, the latter of whom has been on the field for 90 plays through the first two weeks (averaging 45 a game), it will be a huge step up physically and mentally, as well as production, considering Jones has five tackles, including one for loss, and a quarterback hit.

"I think just, you know, more preparation," Scourton said, as to what this week of practice looks like for him. "You know, bigger role this week, I got to go execute, so trying to do as much as possible to be able to be ready on Sunday."

During his final year with the Aggies, Scourton accumulated 37 tackles with 5.0 sacks and a forced fumble. In his second year at Purdue, 2023, Scourton picked up 50 tackles with 10.0 sacks and a forced fumble.

He knows, and has seen up close, that the NFL is a different speed, though. Still, despite this being only Week 3, Scourton has jumped straight into the defense this offseason, particularly in the past two weeks of the regular season. If he's called upon Sunday, he'll be ready.

"I've got two games under my belt, and I've learned a little bit these past two weeks. So you know I'm going to continue to grow and build that routine."

And if he can grab his first career NFL sack, he has a celebration ready to go.

"I've been ready since the first game," exclaimed Scourton, promising fans, "they'll see it soon."