In the realm of American football, the Carolina Panthers are clearly banking on the long-term potential of Bryce Young, their former No. 1 draft pick. However, at present, the second-year quarterback finds himself seated on the sidelines as grizzled veteran Andy Dalton takes the reins as the starting quarterback for the upcoming Week 3 showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Young faced the press on Thursday for the first time since news broke of his demotion in the wake of a dismal 0-2 start to the 2024 season. In reflecting on the Panthers’ decision to sideline him, Young remarked, “I don’t think that’s up for me to decide. There’s a lot of plays that last year and these first two games, for the most part every snap hit my hands. And I didn’t do it at the end of the day. I take accountability for that…There’s a long list of things that I wish I was better at. And I’m going to continue to work to grow and improve on and be better at [them].”
Adding further, Young stated, “I’m always going to look in the mirror…Everyone is dealing with something, everyone has circumstances. If I went out there and played better and we won games, at the end of the day that falls on me that that didn’t happen, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Looking back at Young’s rookie season in 2023, it was a disappointment. With just one more touchdown (11) than interceptions (10) and a staggering 62 sacks, the Panthers only managed to win two out of his 16 starts.
The 2024 campaign also stumbled out of the gate for Young. After two games, his stats were underwhelming, with 245 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions on 31-of-56 passing, resulting in a lackluster 44.1 passer rating.
As the young quarterback navigates this challenging period in his career, the Panthers are placing their faith in Dalton to lead the team on the field. The stakes are high, and as the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Young’s journey back to the starting role he once held.
