Already down 23-3 around the midpoint of the third quarter, the Carolina Panthers didn’t have much to hang onto in their Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. But whatever was left was given away by quarterback Bryce Young.
Young, on a third-and-7 from Carolina’s own 33-yard line, scared himself into a sack—turning down an open pocket in front of him only to scatter backwards into the waiting arms of Pro Bowl pass rusher Joey Bosa.
this was the worst Bryce Young play of Week 2
3rd and 7 – this has to be a climb. Not an exit out of the back and run into a sack.
Second phase to Thielen, since no one was open on the primary side, is the play to make here. pic.twitter.com/qGTxtrZAxP
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 16, 2024
It was just one of a handful of head-scratching plays the former Heisman Trophy winner has already made this season, as he’s continued to mystify fans in a much different way compared to his magical, playmaking days at the University of Alabama.
His mistake also perplexed veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, who was caught in an uncharacteristic display of emotion at the sideline . . .
Adam Thielen heads the sidelines with visible frustration pic.twitter.com/S9WMTV8yG9
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 15, 2024
It was in this moment that Thielen not only gave us a simple glimpse into human nature. He also gave the Panthers and head coach Dave Canales a glimpse into exactly what they do not want.
Since then, Young has been officially bumped. Canales announced on Monday that he’s decided to bench the 23-year-old Young in favor of 36-year-old Andy Dalton beginning in Week 3.
Albeit a somber one, the decision represented the first big-time move from the first-year head coach. Whether or not owner David Tepper played a role in the choice, demoting last year’s No. 1 overall pick takes some courage.
Oh, and Young’s not just any plain ol’ No. 1 overall pick. Tepper and the Panthers forked over what’s turning out to be a crippling ransom to get into position for him.
So, why did Canales pull the plug on Young so quickly? Why did this supposed quarterback whisperer bail on the project he was brought in to ace?
Well, we have to look back to Thielen’s reaction from Sunday.
Although Canales was hired, in part, to “fix” Young after a disappointing rookie campaign, his overall objective is to fix the Panthers. And that, with a six-year identity crisis plaguing the franchise into the deepest bowels of the NFL’s basement, can only begin by establishing a culture.
That didn’t seem feasible given Young’s early play, which has—ironically enough—stunted the growth of Carolina’s offense. Through two games, Young has passed for just 245 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while the Panthers have amassed all of 13 points and a grand total of two successful third-down conversions.
His performance has been particularly concerning given the relatively solid offerings from the players around him. In addition to his pass catchers finally finding some space, Young’s starting offensive line has done awfully well—as the five hog mollies have combined to allow just nine pressures thus far.
But when a quarterback isn’t doing his job, the rest of the team suffers. And when the team suffers, players cannot buy in and a culture cannot evolve.
What do you tell wideout Diontae Johnson, who has only five receptions for 34 yards to start a contract year? What do you tell Thielen, who may not have many seasons left in his 34-year-old body?
While some may believe that sticking with Young and hoping he eventually matures into the organization’s massive investment is the logical approach, it’s not very sensible to the other 52 men on the roster. You can’t tell them you’re staying with a quarterback who cannot operate a pro offense right now.
That is, essentially, what Canales told reporters on Monday.
“Every single week—we’re evaluating our roster, we’re challenging all spots, we’re looking to just be as competitive as possible,” he said. “And that’s the part that we owe, again, to everybody—is to really continue to evaluate who we have out there, who can help us.”
Courageous decisions can often made out of fear for the greater good. So even though he may be admitting a particularly painful failure on Young, at least for now, Canales has bravely taken one for his team.
