Bryce Young did not exactly rest during the Carolina Panthers’ bye week. The quarterback was the guest picker on College GameDay in Tuscaloosa, met fans in Raleigh and joined Peyton and Eli Manning on the ManningCast on Monday night. On Tuesday he was back at the team facility, and he said that was where he wanted to be.
“It was good, some cool experiences, but you definitely miss, you miss football, you miss the locker room, miss everyone, so I’m super excited to be back,” Young said. “I don’t want to say you take it for granted, but whenever you’re able to have time away from it, it just makes you appreciate it more.”
Alabama fans greeted their former Heisman Trophy winner with MVP chants when he arrived at the GameDay set on Saturday. He went 5 for 6 with his picks, but he said the attention barely reaches him. Young has stayed off social media since his sophomore year of college. “It’s honestly not for me,” he said.
Playing at his best
The attention follows the best start of Young’s career. Through four games he has completed 101 of 162 passes (62.4 percent) for 1,268 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, a 100.0 passer rating. In his last game before the bye, a win over the Detroit Lions, he went 29 of 41 for 329 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Head coach Dave Canales said none of it has changed his quarterback. “His natural growth and progression just continues to take strides every week as he learns new things about certain defenses, as he learns new things about his guys,” Canales said. “He hasn’t changed regardless of circumstances, whether it be in a positive way, this way, or whether it’s been in a negative way at different times.”
Knee not slowing him down
Young is on the injury report with a knee issue for a second straight week, but it has not cost him any work. He was listed as a full participant on Wednesday’s report, which was an estimate because Carolina practiced on Tuesday instead, and he has practiced fully every time since he hurt the knee.
Right tackle Monroe Freeling (knee) and running back AJ Dillon (ankle) were the only Panthers listed as not participating. Veteran tackle Taylor Moton, back in his practice window after recovering from blood clots in his lung, was a full participant.
What comes next
The Panthers are 2-2 and in first place in the NFC South. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles, who are 2-3 and on a three-game losing streak, on Sunday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Carolina returns to a full practice and a regular injury report on Thursday.
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