NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The time has come for the Carolina Panthers to sit Bryce Young. Yes, it’s only his second season but there has been no growth. Deep down, the organization is holding out hope but next to that feeling, is their heart, and it’s telling them it’s time to move on.
Andy Dalton is the QB who can lead this team to a few wins. He has the experience and at 36 years old, he still has some tread left in his tires.
The excuse last season for Young was that the Panthers didn’t provide him with enough weapons. At first, that seems like a solid excuse. But when you look, you see that they did have some talent. The fault falls on the shoulders of the QB.
Heading into this season, the Panthers snagged Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The thought was paired with veteran Adam Thielen, Young has weapons at the receiver position. And yet, he continues to struggle.
Look at it this way. This season in two games, Young has yet to throw a TD or reach 200 yards passing in a single game. Hell, he has not reached 250 total yards passing in 2 games. His completion percentage for the season is an abysmal 55.4. He has thrown 3 interceptions and has missed receivers as if Stevie Wonder was his QB coach. How much longer should the Panthers endure this?
Pulling the plug now will indeed leave them with egg on their face. Remember, they have up a ton to move in position to grab the Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama.
Young looks shook in the pocket. Watching him play you wonder if he knows the plays at all. Is he comfortable? Is all the outside noise getting to him? Is he respected in the locker room? There are just too many questions surrounding the young QB and not enough answers.
The Panthers are just 2-18 with Young as the starter. He has thrown for 3122 yards to pair with 11 TDs and 10 interceptions. The comparisons to Peyton Manning are made which is why some are still willing to give him time but what about the comparisons to Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell?
Should the Panthers let him play out his second season and see if he turns things around or yank him now and let him watch the veteran Dalton run the show and hopefully learn? how much worse can things go with the veteran than they have gone with their supposedly “Future of the Franchise” in Young?
It’s a lot to ponder considering what they gave up. But then it still leaves them in limbo heading into the offseason. Do they draft or trade for another QB in 2025? We can sit here and say he doesn’t have the weapons around him but he has two good receivers and 2 solid backs in Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. The problem is Bryce Young. He may not be a fit in the NFL. It happens.
No one expected the Carolina Panthers to be contenders this season. But what they did expect was for their 2nd year QB to show some level of growth. Hell, he’s has taken a step back. And for that, the Panthers must take a step back from him.
