NFL QB inventory report, Week 14: Perception into Bryce Younger’s revival; Kirk Cousins nonetheless Falcons’ QB1?

Now, that is the Bryce Younger the NFL had been anticipating.

The 2023 No. 1 choose has performed a lot better since returning to the Carolina Panthers beginning lineup 5 weeks in the past, and the gradual development of late has been essentially the most encouraging. A coach who lately ready for his crew to play towards the Panthers famous that Younger’s consolation within the pocket has been a launching level for enchancment.

Younger has accomplished 60.4 p.c of his passes over the previous 5 video games for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and an 83.5 passer score. He’s additionally logged 82 speeding yards and a rating. They aren’t gaudy numbers, however they’ve been environment friendly.

And let’s not overlook, the Panthers nonetheless have sufficient holes on the roster that they’ll be in competition for the No. 1 choose in April. Younger returned to a crew that was once more a vendor on the commerce deadline.

Younger, who has had three head coaches (one interim) in two seasons, began poorly and was benched after two video games. He didn’t throw a landing move because the Panthers solely generated 13 factors in two blowout losses, and he was picked 3 times and sacked six occasions.

So the Panthers turned to veteran Andy Dalton, a controversial transfer that made some across the league wonder if they have been finished with Younger altogether. Head coach Dave Canales had been credited for his earlier work with Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield, so Younger’s two-game trial his new coach was alarmingly quick after the Panthers invested a lot to draft him.

To assume, Younger’s return to the sphere wasn’t even a part of the plan. Dalton injured his thumb in a automotive accident, so the Panthers had no alternative however to return to Younger.

He had certainly one of his finest statistical performances in his re-debut, a 28-14 loss to the Broncos, earlier than main the Panthers to tight victories towards the Saints and Giants. However Younger actually caught everybody’s consideration when he rallied the offense for a game-tying drive towards the Chiefs, who in the end received on the buzzer. And Sunday, Younger was once more nails in crunchtime in a tricky extra time loss to the Buccaneers.

“The shocking factor earlier than (the benching) was that he struggled to take care of stress. That wasn’t a difficulty in faculty,” a rival govt mentioned. “He’s extra assured now. He was taking a beating earlier than. He appeared like a battered participant.

“They’ve gotten higher as an offense total. Sitting down and coming again, he’s extra assured in what he’s doing.”

Younger was sacked 62 occasions in 16 begins as a rookie, so the pocket jitters have been comprehensible. He’s additionally handled scheme and regime modifications. Drive a younger quarterback to perpetually play catch-up to the surroundings round him, and the basics can get misplaced.

For the reason that chaos has settled in Carolina, Younger has developed extra belief together with his talent gamers. He solely had two completions of no less than 20 yards in his first two begins of the season, however he has 15 such performs since returning.

Issues are lastly transferring in the suitable course, with Younger and Canales trying like a greater pair than it appeared in September.

“Bryce had a tough go, nevertheless it looks as if he’s beginning to perceive the offense,” one other evaluator mentioned. “He’s getting protected a little bit higher and being decisive. He did go No. 1 for a motive.”

First, Cousins

Kirk Cousins is coming off his worst outing with the Atlanta Falcons, tossing 4 interceptions in a 17-13 loss to a Los Angeles Chargers crew with a powerful protection. However the 36-year-old now leads the NFL with 13 interceptions, and he has no touchdowns towards six picks throughout a three-game shedding streak that’s dropped the Falcons right into a tie with the Buccaneers within the NFC South.

With these elements, together with Cousins clearly nonetheless recovering from a torn Achilles, there can be mounting stress to show towards rookie Michael Penix Jr. The primary-round choose has blown away the Falcons’ brass, from the way in which he carried himself within the constructing over the offseason to his regular-season work on the apply discipline. There’s plenty of optimism over Penix’s future.

However there’s additionally hope for the current. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract final offseason, and the Falcons personal the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bucs. The Falcons rank fourth in passing yards and eighth in whole yards this season, so the offense has pulled its weight, even when it’s been sporadic at occasions, together with the four-pick efficiency costing Atlanta a win.

That is all to say Cousins ought to, in principle, give the Falcons a greater likelihood to succeed in the playoffs than a rookie with 5 profession passing makes an attempt. Oh, and the Falcons are about to go to the Minnesota Vikings, so there’s no motive to assume they’d shelve Cousins earlier than an emotional sport towards his former crew.

However what if the droop continues, or the Falcons fall a few video games behind the Bucs? It’d be logical to provide Penix a glance down the stretch to no less than open the opportunity of shifting to Plan B in 2025, particularly since he’s been crushing it in apply.

There’d even be a profit to conserving Cousins wholesome, contemplating how tough it’s for anybody to return again so shortly from an Achilles damage. Cousins has $27.5 million in assured cash in 2025, so it’d be pure to need to get essentially the most out of him below the circumstances.

These choices aren’t made in a vacuum, although. If Penix performed nicely down the stretch, there’d be extra stress to play him in 2025. And if the Falcons agreed with that sentiment, they’d need to discover a new residence for Cousins, who has a no-trade clause.

The Falcons might deal with the monetary fallout of parting with Cousins as a result of they’d be selling a quarterback on a rookie contract, nevertheless it’s additionally the kind of resolution that would dramatically backfire if Penix didn’t instantly pan out. And regardless of how nicely a quarterback performs in apply, you don’t know the way a QB will look in a sport till he amasses sufficient expertise.

It’s an attractive thought, however in all probability not one thing the Falcons ought to act upon except it turns into completely crucial.

Again on prime

Josh Allen returned to the highest of the rankings for the primary time since Weeks 4-5. The Buffalo Payments QB opened the season at No. 2 behind Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes. Allen remained there for 3 weeks after which struggled for a few video games earlier than tumbling to No. 4 for 4 weeks. He earned sturdy consideration at No. 1 per week in the past, and his unbelievable efficiency within the snow towards the 49ers, coupled with Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s loss to the Eagles, solidified the change.

Amari Cooper and Josh Allen join for the last word snow sport landing ‼️

🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/xcOw7jZSEB

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 2, 2024

Allen’s passing/receiving landing can be one of many highlights of the season, the reply to a trivia query and probably some of the iconic performs in Payments historical past. Possibly, for some, it is going to be considered as his MVP second.

However from this vantage level, Allen started his mission to overhaul Jackson within the MVP race in Week 11 together with his 26-yard landing run on fourth-and-2 to successfully beat the Chiefs. The race is way from a formality, although, as Jackson, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff and Philadelphia Eagles working again Saquon Barkley don’t determine to be going anyplace.

Jackson’s numbers are nonetheless higher throughout the board, save for speeding touchdowns, the place Allen has a 6-3 edge. Jackson’s Ravens additionally blew out Allen’s Payments in Week 4.

However the Payments are in competition for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, whereas Allen is coming by way of with some large moments down the stretch. There’s a respectable argument to be made for the first characters within the race.

Harm notes

• Baker Mayfield ought to be good to go this week towards the Raiders, in accordance with league sources. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB was nonetheless sore Monday after a Panthers defender stepped on the again of his proper leg Sunday, inflicting Mayfield to go to the damage tent and put on a strolling boot after the sport. However there was no have to endure additional testing. Mayfield has performed by way of way more severe accidents up to now.

• Jaguars coach Doug Pederson mentioned Monday they’re nonetheless assessing choices with Trevor Lawrence, who suffered a scary concussion Sunday towards the Texans. Lawrence will stay within the rankings till a call has been made on his availability.

• Drew Lock grew to become the forty fifth QB to seem within the rankings this season as a result of he began the Giants’ final sport and the crew declined to announce which of Daniel Jones’ former backups would begin its upcoming sport towards the Saints.

Dropped out of rankings: Giants’ Tommy DeVito (forearm damage), No. 32 final week.

(Picture of Bryce Younger: Matt Kelley / Getty Pictures)