Nick Scott has returned to practice after missing the Carolina Panthers' Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns with a rib injury.
And it is immensely well-timed.
The veteran safety was ruled out last week after missing all of practice, but head coach Dave Canales said that Scott's injury appeared to be a "playable condition."
Carolina Panthers need Nick Scott to cal their depleted secondary
Now, his return carries even more weight.
The Panthers placed both Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. on injured reserve after the starting cornerbacks suffered injuries against Cleveland. Horn is dealing with what Canales called a "significant quad injury", while Jackson suffered a groin complication that required surgery early in the game.
Both will miss at least four games. And they could miss a whole lot more.
That leaves Carolina extremely thin on the outside. Scott cannot replace either cornerback, but getting an experienced safety back gives defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero another key piece as the Panthers try to hold together a secondary facing a major test against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football.
And Scott's value goes beyond his individual production.
The Panthers were already forced to adjust their secondary when he went down against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Lathan Ransom stepped in and played 59 defensive snaps against the Browns, and Evero praised the young safety for handling the assignment after being forced into action.
Nick Scott won't solve all the Carolina Panthers' problems, but he will help
That performance gives Carolina some confidence in Ransom. It also shows why getting Scott back matters.
His return gives Evero another experienced player who understands the defense's communication demands. That becomes especially important now that Carolina has lost both of its starting corners.
There is no way around the biggest problem facing the Panthers.
Horn and Jackson were supposed to give Carolina one of the league's more experienced and best cornerback tandems. Instead, the Panthers now have just three cornerbacks on the active roster.
Fourth-round rookie Will Lee III, Akayleb Evans, and Chau Smith-Wade will attempt to take charge. The team has already acknowledged it may need additional defensive backs.
That puts even more pressure on the safeties. It also gives Carolina a better chance to keep its communication intact.
Week 4 will bring the Lions, who are averaging 31 points per game through three weeks and have quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and an offense that can put stress on a depleted secondary.
Carolina will still need its young corners to step up. There will still be opportunities for Ransom and Zakee Wheatley. The Panthers may also elevate someone like Corey Thornton from the practice squad to improve depth.
But Scott's return gives Evero one fewer problem to solve.
Considering what happened to Carolina's secondary this week, that's a pretty significant development.
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