Bryce Young said the Carolina Panthers’ answer to two straight losses and a coaching change is simple. “Execute, that’s all,” he said on Tuesday, a few days after Carolina fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and slipped to 3-4 with a 27-19 loss at Green Bay. Young said his knee is fine, called the Denver Broncos’ defense “really good,” and said the Panthers “all play for each other.”
The Panthers host the 6-2 Broncos on Sunday, November 8, at 1:00 p.m. ET, which is 8:00 p.m. in Cairo. In the Packers game, Young was 23 of 41 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he was sacked six times.
The coaching change: “one of the toughest parts of the profession”
Asked what he tries to say in the locker room after a week like the last one, Young started with the people involved. “Obviously that’s one of the toughest parts of the profession, from the human side,” he said. “You feel for the coaches that have done so much for us, have been a part of the journey for this change.” Carolina also let go of defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley, and defensive line coach Todd Wash is the interim coordinator and play caller.
From there, Young said the message is about work. “Just the focus on the work and the process,” he said. “We’re all bought in. We all know that we have what it takes within the building. We all play for each other, so making sure the attention to detail is there, making sure we can have a good week of practice, and then trying to go out and be at our best on Sunday.”
Morale after two losses: “You have to turn the page”
Asked about the team’s morale after back-to-back losses and the change on defense, Young said it is the nature of a long season. “The ebbs and flows of a long 17-game season, that’s how it goes. You have to turn the page in this league,” he said. “We have all the confidence we need in each other. We see how we all work, how we play for each other. It doesn’t entitle us to anything, but we’re just excited for that process.” He said the focus is winning this week, and “that’s all this league is about.”
The offense: “It just comes down to execution”
Carolina’s offense started well but has not scored as freely in the last couple of games. Asked what has to be better, Young kept it short. “Execute, that’s all. It just comes down to execution, making things happen,” he said. He said the Panthers have “a ton of respect” for a Denver defense that is a “really good unit, really good players, good system,” and that “we know we have to make those calls come to life.”
Asked what stands out about the Broncos from watching them during the Panthers’ extra days off after the Thursday game, Young said they are “really good at every level.” “You see the intensity they play with, attention to detail, play really well together, very competitive,” he said. He said he used the break for “a mental reset,” and to watch extra film so the team could be ahead of the game plan. “It’s a privilege to be able to be here, be able to compete, be able to be in this league,” he said.
“I’m good”: Young on his knee and running
After the Packers game, Panthers coach Dave Canales said “maybe” when asked if Young’s knee was bothering him. Young was asked again on Tuesday how healthy he feels and whether it has changed how he plays. “I’m good. I’m capable of doing everything for the team,” he said. “It’s football. I don’t think you can ask anyone across the league who’s been playing if they’re not having something. That’s part of the game. But yeah, I feel good. I’m blessed to be able to go out there. So it’s just all about execution.”
A reporter also noted that Young has run less this season than he did at the end of last year and asked whether he sees more openings on film. Young did not frame it as a change. “I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team have success and try to execute every play. That’s always the goal,” he said. “That mindset’s not going to change however it looks.”
Looking at Denver, not back at 2024
Young was asked about his last meeting with the Broncos, two years ago, when he came back as the starter. He said it feels far away. “Different group, obviously, system, and there’s a lot of carryover with players. Try to take that, but of course, it’s been two years for everyone,” he said. “There’s a lot of differences.” He added: “I’m just trying to be where my feet are. Not a big look-back, look-forward person.”
The last question was whether he ever watches the broadcast copy of games. “Traditionally, it’s just the film part,” Young said, unless there is something specific he needs to see from a different angle.
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