Bryce Young had a chance to redeem himself on Sunday during mop-up duty in the Panthers’ humiliating loss to the Chicago Bears. While he displayed noticeable improvement, it wasn’t enough to reclaim his starting job from veteran QB Andy Dalton.
Young’s start to the season was rough—through two games, he completed just 31 of 56 passes for 245 yards, threw three interceptions, and failed to find the end zone. His performances led to a combined scoreline where the Panthers were outscored 73-13, and the rookie QB looked completely out of his depth.
After benching Young, the Panthers managed a turnaround, winning their Week 3 game against the Raiders and putting up a fight in Week 4 against the Bengals, ultimately falling 34-24. However, the blowout loss to the Bears provided a window for Young to see the field again.
In his limited time, Young showed signs of improvement, looking more composed and making a few good throws. But as Pro Football Talk notes, while his progress is encouraging, the Panthers remain committed to Dalton. The veteran quarterback is seen as the team’s best option for now, offering more stability and giving Carolina a better chance to win in the short term.
For Young, the road back to the starting role is still open, but it’s clear he needs to continue developing and prove he’s ready for the responsibility of leading an NFL offense. The rookie will have to wait for another opportunity to showcase his growth and seize the spotlight.
