With the Carolina Panthers already losing second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton for the season to a torn ACL, the last thing head coach Dave Canales needed was another prominent outside linebacker missing time.
Unfortunately, that's the situation Canales is now facing.
Patrick Jones II was listed as a non-participant in practice on Wednesday. Canales later revealed that the veteran was week-to-week with a back issue, not for the first time in his Panthers career.
Carolina Panthers won't have Patrick Jones II available for Week 1
And he has been ruled out for Carolina's regular-season opener.
Jones got off to a tremendous start in Carolina last season before a back injury that required surgery ended his campaign after just four games. The 2021 third-round pick out of Pittsburgh got the all-clear to resume football activities earlier this offseason, and he picked up where he left off to potentially secure a starting spot opposite Jaelan Phillips with Scourton on the shelf.
Canales confirmed the problem has flared up again, further depleting a defensive edge that needs to be at its best to counter the Chicago Bears' offensive threat.
The Panthers will just have to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation. Canales and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will already have contingencies in place, and general manager Dan Morgan added another option by acquiring Jeremiah Moon for their practice squad.
Another setback for Jones could mean more involvement for Princely Umanmielen. He's eager for more responsibilities, but his ability to stay disciplined against the run is concerning. That bears more significance this weekend, with Bears head coach Ben Johnson running misdirection and motion to keep defenses off balance.
Much will depend on how much Umanmielen has improved his run-stopping credentials. But if the Panthers aren't entirely convinced, it could see more work for Trevis Gipson to flourish in the starting rotation.
Gipson could provide more, especially on running plays with the threat of play-action. He's seen as a special-teams ace for the most part, but he'll need to do more now that Jones can't feature.
What the future holds for Jones is unclear.
The Panthers will give him all the time he needs to get right, but back issues can prove complicated. The NFL is physical, so if it's not 100 percent, it'll happen again. Taking things one step at a time is the only option.
Phillips will see more double teams. Umanmielen will have tasks he's never had before. Gipson will be thrown into the fire, eager to make an impression that stands him in good stead for the rest of 2026.
Hopefully, that'll be enough. But the Panthers' chances of winning in Week 1 didn't exactly improve with Jones already ruled out.
Let's hope the coping mechanisms work.
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