The Carolina Panthers’ 2024 season kicked off in a disappointing fashion as they suffered a brutal 47-10 defeat at the hands of their division rivals, the Saints. However, the Panthers have a chance to turn things around this weekend as they gear up for their home opener against the Chargers.
After struggling in the previous game, quarterback Bryce Young faced criticism for throwing an interception on his first passing attempt. Despite this, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen defended Young by stating that the offensive struggles were not solely his fault. Thielen addressed reporters and shared, “I don’t think that’s just a Bryce thing. I think that’s all of us. First game back — games are just different. You can do all the preseason, you can do all the OTAs, training camp — all that is great and all that gives you an idea of what a game looks like. But games are just different.”
Thielen emphasized the importance of overcoming the first-game nerves and finding a way to improve collectively as a team. He mentioned the significance of starting strong in their upcoming game against the Chargers, stating, “[T]hat doesn’t necessarily mean you have to just score 30 points in the first half. It means that you’ve got to go get some first downs. You’ve got to make a couple of big plays. You’ve got to do some of the little things right that just give you some confidence, momentum.”
In Week 1, Young struggled as he completed 13-of-30 passes for 161 yards and threw two interceptions. On the bright side, Thielen led the team with 49 yards on three catches. Despite the tough start to the season, the Panthers are focused on bouncing back and showing their true potential on the field.
