The Carolina Panthers are staying committed to playing out the process with their new franchise quarterback.
Following Saturday’s session of rookie minicamp, head coach Frank Reich was asked how the reps under center will be distributed during organized team activities. He, like general manager Scott Fitterer, said Andy Dalton will begin ahead of the 2023 NFL draft’s No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
“Yeah, Bryce will get a lot of reps,” he told reporters. “As we said—when he’s ready, when it’s best for the team, that’s when we’ll look to make a transition. Right now, we come back out Monday, Andy will be taking reps with the 1’s, Bryce will be with the 2’s.
“Bryce is gonna get a lot of reps. Likely even get a few more than Andy, just as the new guy. And the good thing with Andy is, he’s logged a lot in the last few weeks and as a savvy veteran, he still needs to work. But we’ll focus on getting Bryce, as the younger played, focused on getting him as many reps as we can.”
Young, of course, is being tasked with “earning” that top spot on the depth chart. As he himself stated during his introductory press conference the day after he was drafted, nothing is a given—regardless of how much the team has invested in him.
Hopefully for Young and the Panthers, they’ll start cashing in on that investment soon.