In a season full of stagnancy, Bryce Young just took a big step forward.
This past Sunday, the rookie quarterback orchestrated an impressive 17-play, 90-yard drive to help push his Carolina Panthers to a 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. And now that he’s had more time to take it all in, interim head coach Chris Tabor was asked about Young’s outing from Week 15.
“I think he’s playin’ well,” Tabor told reporters on Wednesday. “I know the previous game to this last one, he wanted some things back there and I know that was talked about. But the way he bounced back in this game, I thought was really a great step for him.”
After recording his lowest completion percentage of the season in the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Young stepped up with his most clutch performance yet. The No. 1 overall pick was six-of-six for 58 yards on the game-winning drive, one that ended in a walk-off 23-yard field goal from NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Eddy Piñeiro.
He finished the contest with his second-highest passer rating of 2023 (93.6).
Tabor, who praised Young for his “big-time” throws in the comeback, went on to make note of the 22-year-old’s growth.
“He’s very accurate,” he added. “I think it’s one of the great skills he has, and he can anticipate throws and those things. You’re watchin’ a player get better. There’s always gonna be some ups and downs with a younger player, and even older players. But I like where he’s at right now.”
