CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers returned from their international junket and geared up for practice Monday for the first time since coming off a bye week.
Quarterback Bryce Young worked with the first offensive unit and was tabbed by coach Dave Canales to start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. Young, who has started the past four games after being benched after a sluggish 0-2 start, guided the Panthers (3-7) to consecutive wins, highlighted by the 20-17 overtime victory over the New York Giants during the Munich Game on Nov. 10.
The Chiefs (9-1) are coming off a 30-21 loss to the host Buffalo Bills.
Canales stopped short of naming the 2023 first-overall draft choice beyond Week 12. Young needs to continue proving he can handle the starter’s role. If not, 14-year veteran Andy Dalton remains available.
“This is about the continued progress,” Canales said after Monday’s practice. “This is about Bryce looking more and more confident as he’s out there. In Germany, just felt a real confidence and just an aggressiveness to his play and all those things. And, of course, the end result, winning. He continues to do things that put us in a position to put him back out there and continue to build on that.”
Over the past four outings, Young has compiled a 62.5 completion percentage, 521 passing yards and four touchdowns. Canales confirmed he will continue evaluating the quarterback situation after each game.
“Yes, yes we will,” he said. “We’ll continue to look at all the film, look at the whole situation and weigh all those things in.”
@Panthers coach Dave Canales returns to work Monday … pic.twitter.com/acUNHRvkKG
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 18, 2024
PK Eddy Pineiro Relaxes, Earns NFL’s Top FG Percentage
One week after hitting the game-winning field in overtime during the Munich Game, placekicker Eddy Pineiro relaxed with family in Miami on Sunday. During his downtime, his name rose to the top of the NFL’s all-time accuracy standard.
Entering the Panthers’ bye week, Pineiro’s 89.381 percent field-goal rate placed him behind Justin Tucker’s 89.716 percentage. But the Baltimore Ravens’ kicker missed two attempts, finishing 1-for-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tucker’s career percentage fell to 89.347 percent, .034 below Pineiro.
During a post-practice press conference, Canales pointed to Pineiro’s approach and consistency to his craft.
“He shows up and does the same thing every day,” Canales said. “We ask those guys to kick on the skinnies (narrower goalposts) in practice, and those tight field goals; he does a really good job striking those. But it was just his approach; it didn’t matter that it was to win the game, it was his same approach to the ball. They used the time out; he just went right back through his routine.
“And I love that; I love being able to point to that to the team, to say guys go through your process, play-to-play, just go through the normal process, and then those fundamentals and that approach will take care of you regardless of what the situation is. The bigger the moments, the smaller the focus. Just focus on your fundamentals and then execute. So I love that Eddie was able to get that done for us in Germany.”
@Panthers K Eddy Pineiro stands with the #NFL’s top all-time FG percentage … pic.twitter.com/k35WZWXvb4
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 18, 2024
Quick Snaps
With RB2 Miles Sanders (foot/ankle) listed as “week-to-week,” Canales said, rookie Jonathon Brooks is prepared to make his NFL debut Sunday against the Chiefs. “I fully expect JB to make his debut this week against the Chiefs,” Canales said. … Linebacker Amare Barno (knee) returned to practice Monday. Barno tore his ACL during last season’s Christmas Eve contest. …. The Panthers placed tight end Ian Thomas, who suffered a calf injury against the Giants, on injured reserve and signed cornerback Caleb Farley to the 53-man roster. Thomas missed time earlier this season with a similar injury. … Canales said veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) could return to the lineup Sunday.
@Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks remains focused on his #NFL debut vs. visiting @Chiefs on Sunday … pic.twitter.com/kW3iUoRfgq
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 18, 2024
