Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers’ highly touted quarterback and first overall draft pick, faced immediate challenges in his rookie season. Just two games into the year, head coach Dave Canales made the surprising decision to bench him.
This move led many to speculate whether Young was already falling short of expectations as the team’s franchise quarterback. The early benching created doubt both inside and outside the organization about whether the Panthers had made the right decision by drafting him.
Young Earns Back Starting Role Through Resilience, Leadership, and Team-First Attitude
Despite the emotional setback, Coach Canales praised Young for the way he handled the situation. Though Young disagreed with the decision, he chose not to let frustration affect his leadership or work ethic. Canales noted that Young continued to lead by example and remained committed to the team. This response earned Young respect from both his coach and teammates, demonstrating maturity beyond his years.
Bryce Young (NFL)
When Young was given the opportunity to return to the starting lineup, he did so with renewed focus and determination. Canales highlighted how Young’s leadership and performance improved after his return, indicating that he had truly earned back the position. His consistent effort and growth signaled that he was ready to move forward, both on and off the field, as the face of the Panthers’ franchise.
Young’s Offseason Leadership Shows Growth, Strengthening Role as Panthers’ Franchise Quarterback
Young’s growth didn’t stop once the season ended. According to Canales, the quarterback’s leadership qualities became even more evident in the offseason. Unlike some top picks who struggle and become isolated from their teams, Young stayed connected and supportive. This commitment to team dynamics and improvement impressed the coaching staff and further solidified his role as a team leader.
With the new season approaching, the Panthers are optimistic that Bryce Young is ready to take the next step. The organization hopes that his growth, resilience, and leadership will validate their decision to select him first overall in the draft. The upcoming season presents a crucial opportunity for Young to not only silence early critics but also establish himself as the cornerstone of the Panthers’ future.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young faced a major challenge just two games into last season when head coach Dave Canales made the surprising decision to bench him. The move raised serious questions about Young’s future as the franchise quarterback, with some speculating whether the team had lost confidence in their top draft pick. However, despite the setback, Young’s role heading into the new season is firmly established, he is the team’s unquestioned starter.
According to Coach Canales, Young responded to the benching with leadership and maturity beyond his years. Although he disagreed with the decision, Young stayed committed to the team, continued to work hard, and maintained a strong presence in the locker room.
His behavior during this time earned him considerable respect from both his teammates and coaching staff. Canales praised Young for showing ownership and demonstrating that he remained dedicated to the team’s success.
Bryce Young (NFL)
Young’s Growth, Leadership, and Resilience Set Stage for a Promising Breakout Season
When Young was eventually reinstated as the starter, he proved that he had earned the position through his growth and commitment. Coach Canales noted how their bond continued to strengthen during this period, especially through the offseason.
Young’s leadership not only remained consistent but also deepened, which stood out to Canales as a key sign of his maturity and growth. Unlike other young quarterbacks who sometimes become isolated when struggling, Young chose to step up and stay connected with his teammates.
As the new season approaches, the Panthers are looking for Young to take the next step in his development and solidify the organization’s faith in him as the No. 1 overall pick. His ability to overcome early adversity, maintain leadership, and re-earn his starting role positions him well for a breakout year. The team is hopeful that Young’s continued growth will confirm that they made the right decision in selecting him to be the face of the franchise.
Miles Sanders scored a 1-yard touchdown in overtime, giving the visiting Carolina Panthers a 44-38 win over the Falcons on Sunday and eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.
Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more touchdowns on the ground. Carolina (5-12) scored a season-high 44 points. Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win and a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans to win the division.
Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.
Carolina won the coin toss in overtime and drove 70 yards, scoring the game-winning touchdown to keep the ball out of Atlanta’s hands. Trailing 24-17 at halftime, the Panthers tied the game after Mike Jackson intercepted Penix’s pass.
Young then threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 10:43 left in the third quarter. After Riley Patterson missed a 52-yard field goal, Carolina regained the lead when Young passed to David Moore for a 9-yard touchdown with 1:02 remaining in the third.
The Falcons answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Penix to London, tying the game at 31 with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter.
Bryce Young (NFL)
Carolina responded with Young’s 10-yard rushing touchdown, capping a nine-play, 70-yard drive to take a 38-31 lead with 4:01 left. Robinson’s 4-yard rushing touchdown tied the game at 38 with 46 seconds remaining. Both teams traded field goals on their opening drives in overtime.
Carolina scored the game’s first touchdown after a turnover on downs by the Falcons at the Panthers’ 42-yard line. Young scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown with 10:47 left in the second quarter.
Atlanta answered with a 70-yard drive, highlighted by London’s 24-yard reception and Robinson’s 15-yard rush. Penix finished the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 10.
Carolina then took a 17-10 lead on Young’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Sanders. Robinson tied the game again with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. After a Carolina punt, Penix led Atlanta on an 81-yard drive in 37 seconds, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to London with three seconds left to give the Falcons a 24-17 halftime lead.
The Carolina Panthers may not be making the playoffs, but they believe they’ve found their future quarterback.
This is important, especially since general manager Dan Morgan now needs to focus on fixing a defense that had a very rough season.
Bryce Young ended his second season on a high note with 21 touchdowns—15 passing and 6 rushing—over his last 10 starts, including five touchdowns in a 44-38 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons, who were still fighting for a playoff spot.
It was a big turnaround for Young, who had been benched just two games into the season by first-year head coach Dave Canales. Many people thought the Panthers had wasted their No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft when they moved up eight spots to select Young, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama.
However, Young proved the doubters wrong. He earned back Canales’ trust and gave Panthers fans hope that the team’s seven-year playoff drought could soon come to an end.
“Absolutely, Bryce is going to be our starter moving forward,” Canales said when asked if Young had shown enough to be the franchise quarterback. “He earned that job. He won it. He took it and ran with it.”
Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble wasn’t surprised by Young’s strong finish. He praised him for staying positive and working hard, even through tough times.
“I have hyped him up from the day he got here because we have been seeing that the entire time,” Tremble said. “Now the whole world got to see it, especially being the last game of the year. He ended it on a high note and really let people talk about his quarterback play. He’s elite.”
Young expressed how thankful he was for the second chance, which came after veteran Andy Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident on October 22 and had to give up the starting job.
Jonathon Cooper and Bryce Young in the 2nd half
When asked if he felt vindicated, Young responded, “I don’t know if vindication is the word, but I always try to control what I can control. I just want to be the best version of myself every day and I will continue to chase that… I want to embrace the good and the bad, and that is something that was a theme for this entire year.”
Evero remains as defensive coordinator
Canales confirmed that Ejiro Evero will stay as the defensive coordinator despite the Panthers allowing 534 points this season, breaking an NFL record set by the 1981 Baltimore Colts, who gave up 533 points during their 2-14 season.
The Panthers played one more game than those Colts and allowed an average of 31.4 points per game, which ranks as the sixth-worst in NFL history.
“I’ve played against his defenses and I know what this defense will look like,” Canales said. “And I’m committed to that and Ejiro is committed to that. So it’s about developing the players we brought in and evaluating our schemes and being honest about that, and then seeing who is out there to improve our roster.”
Canales didn’t say if the whole defensive staff would return.
“I love EJ and I love his scheme,” said GM Dan Morgan. “But I have to do my part as well, me and my staff, of putting really good players on the field and adding good pieces. … We will continue to be aggressive. We will be smart, but we will be aggressive.”
Brown recovering
Evero faced challenges after the Panthers traded top pass rusher Brian Burns and cornerback Donte Jackson, lost linebacker Frankie Luvu in free agency, and saw two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson suffer injuries in the first two weeks of the season.
The Panthers signed edge rusher D.J. Wonnum in the offseason, but he was on injured reserve for the first half of the season.
Bryce Young (NFL)
The good news for the Panthers is that Brown is expected to return from a torn meniscus in his knee by the start of offseason team activities.
Thompson’s future in Carolina is less clear after he played in only six games over the past two seasons due to injuries. Thompson, a key emotional leader on defense, has been with the team for the last decade.
Horn’s future
The Panthers’ top priority in free agency will be re-signing their only Pro Bowl player, cornerback Jaycee Horn.
Horn has only played in 37 out of a possible 68 games during his injury-prone four-year career, but he’s been a top shutdown corner when healthy. The Panthers are expected to pick up Horn’s fifth-year option and are likely to offer him a long-term deal.
Specialists’ contracts
The Panthers have had a reliable group of specialists over the last three seasons, including kicker Eddy Pineiro, punter Johnny Hekker, and long snapper J.J. Janson. However, all three are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Pineiro, who has an 88.1% field goal accuracy, is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history. He could attract a good amount of attention in free agency, despite not having a particularly strong leg.
Draft position
The Panthers finished with a 5-12 record, marking their sixth straight season with 10 losses. They will pick 8th in the upcoming NFL draft.
