We have just started yet another chapter in the ever-intriguing story of the 2024 Carolina Panthers.
On Wednesday, head coach Dave Canales announced that 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young will get the starting nod in the team’s Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. This decision comes as a result of the right thumb injury to veteran Andy Dalton, who was involved in a minor car accident yesterday.
Young was benched just two weeks into the regular season, after displaying an alarming lack of confidence as a passer in a pair of lackluster starts. The flashes from a lowly 2023 rookie campaign, unfortunately, would prove to be exactly that—as the 23-year-old seemingly regressed to begin his second NFL campaign.
Benching such a young quarterback at such an early stage is a death sentence for most. Many believed that Young’s career, at least in Carolina, was effectively over—especially after Dalton’s early stretch of offensive success.
Before today’s announcement, rumors had been swirling about the possible availability of the player who was once the top quarterback on many draft boards just a year ago. And a trade could actually happen before the Nov. 5 deadline, unless Young delivers something special.
Sunday’s outing in Denver may prove to be a crucial point in Young’s career. It could be all or nothing.
He’s an incredibly talented quarterback who’s getting a fresh opportunity at being the long-term answer in Carolina. Canales, during the week of his benching, even stated that he still had hope that Young could be a franchise quarterback.
There’s also a chance that Young is currently under a coaching staff that may not believe in him anymore, which is also another critical piece in understanding his future. He needs to prove himself in the biggest way this weekend—not just for the coaches, but for a fanbase that is in desperate need of a morale boost.
This weekend, Young must improve in the key areas that forced his head coach to make a franchise-altering decision—his ball security, his answers against pressure and pocket awareness and his composure. If these areas yield marked improvement, it could change the minds of the staff on who they’ll roll with going forward.
Once again, it’s all or nothing for the former Heisman Trophy winner– a second and potential last chance to prove his worth to the franchise that invested so heavily into him.
But if we see more of the same on Sunday, it could be the last time we see Young in the saddle for the Panthers.
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