How a breakfast phone call led to a ‘grateful’ return to Panthers training camp
Cam Gill missed the first practice of Carolina Panthers’ training camp.
When second-year pass rusher Nic Scourton was being carted off the field Thursday, Gill was working out on his own following a standout season in the United Football League. The reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year was eating breakfast later that morning when he got the call from the Panthers to fill Scourton’s void within the outside linebacker depth chart.
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“Just asked how soon could I get there and take a physical and sign,” Gill told The Charlotte Observer Friday.
Gill — who posted a league-record 10 sacks in the spring for the UFL champion Louisville Kings — was prompt. He arrived in time for the second day of summer workouts in a familiar setting.
“It was special to me, man,” Gill said about his first practice back in Charlotte. “I took the field today, and I was just grateful. I said a quick prayer. And I’m blessed to be back here — just to get another opportunity in this league, but another chance with this team, with some familiar faces, with coaches and players, it just means all the more to me.”
Gill, 28, played for the Panthers during head coach Dave Canales’ debut campaign in 2024. After sustaining a broken hand in training camp that year, Gill was eventually forced to recover elsewhere before returning to Bank of America Stadium for a 10-game stretch. Gill played 60% of the squad’s special teams snaps. He also appeared on 221 defensive plays during the campaign.
In 2025, Gill failed to the make the Minnesota Vikings’ roster out of training camp. He didn’t register a regular-season NFL snap. So, he headed to the spring league and made his mark.
Now, he could be one of the rare athletes to play football year-round this season.
“We won the championship, so we just finished up a month ago, but there (are) no disadvantages when you love football, and you want to play at the highest level, which is the NFL,” Gill said.
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Gill, known throughout his career as a special teams contributor, is hoping to show off his defensive chops in camp. With Scourton sidelined for the year with a torn right ACL, the Panthers could use all the help they can get at outside linebacker.
While Gill is a familiar face, his entire position room has been revamped since his last stint with the franchise. Jaelan Phillips, Pat Jones and Princely Umanmielen will lead the group, while journeyman Trevis Gipson and Thomas Incoom — the only other outside linebacker from the 2024 season remaining — will compete with Gill for snaps.
“They’re just ultimate pros,” Gill said. “Great leaders. And even with the new stuff that has changed since I had last been here, they were helping me out with some of the verbiage and techniques, so I’m definitely going to be leaning heavily on those guys.”
Gill has shown he can get to the QB with regular reps at the position. Yes, he was facing lower-level talent, but Gill does have 2.5 sacks on his NFL resume, despite mostly playing on special teams.
He wants to add a few more sacks this season if he can make the Panthers’ roster this summer.
“I’m fully healthy now — I’m a dominant force,” Gill said. “Whether it’s early downs, passing downs, on special teams — man, I’m not just comfortable being on the field. I’m a dominating factor, so that’s my goal to show.”
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This story was originally published July 27, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
