CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales did not hesitate Wednesday when requested whether or not Bryce Younger nonetheless has an opportunity to be a franchise quarterback.
“Completely,” he stated of Younger, who was benched Monday after an 0-2 begin to this season and 2-16 begin to his professional profession.
Canales additionally debunked any risk the Panthers would contemplate buying and selling the highest decide of the 2023 draft, who has been changed by 36-year-old Andy Dalton for Sunday’s recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders.
“That is not one thing we’re actually contemplating,” he stated. “We now have an important state of affairs with our quarterbacks proper now with guys which have expertise.
“We love the place we’re at, and it is all palms on deck.”
Carolina gamers additionally insisted they nonetheless imagine within the 23-year-old Younger.
“It is positively not over,” stated working again Miles Sanders, who misplaced his beginning job final season to Chuba Hubbard. “Undoubtedly. He is good. He is quick. He is the primary one within the constructing, the final one out. It is positively not over.
“That is his dwelling, and he is gonna get one other shot.”
Veteran vast receiver Adam Thielen, who after Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers stated he beloved Younger and would combat for him, agreed.
“I am very excited for his future,” he stated. “Simply within the second, watching him apply in the present day, the throws he was making, his confidence. You already know he can do that at a excessive degree.
“Generally it isn’t all that unhealthy to simply take a step again and breathe.”
Teammates additionally had been adamant that Younger’s dimension (5-foot-10, 204 kilos), which was scrutinized earlier than the draft, hasn’t been a consider his struggles. Younger has three interceptions to no touchdowns in two video games and a Complete QBR of 9.1 that’s among the many worst ever over a two-game stretch.
“That is been zero issue,” Thielen stated of Younger’s dimension. “That is one thing that’s simply so overtalked about. He hasn’t been injured. There’s nothing you may say that like, ‘Oh, if he was 2 inches taller, this could be totally different.’ That is simply clickbait or a speaking level.”
Younger ran the scout workforce for the primary time Wednesday whereas Dalton took first-team reps. Canales preferred what he noticed.
“Proper again to work,” he stated. “He dove into the sport plan. We had our conversations within the QB room, speaking about reads, about what we see from the protection. He adopted it up with an important day on the sector, some unbelievable throws.
“He simply acquired proper again to work, which is precisely what I anticipated.”
Canales, nonetheless, sidestepped the query of whether or not the choice to bench Younger the day after he insisted Younger would begin towards the Raiders would destroy the quarterback’s confidence.
“My concern is the soccer workforce,” he stated. “My concern is we push the entire group to attain the usual of play, the usual of apply that we’re in search of. I want I might reply it totally different, however that is actually it.”
Younger did not converse to the media Wednesday however plans to on Thursday. Sources near the state of affairs stated that the previous Heisman Trophy winner wasn’t joyful about being benched however that they anticipated him to exhibit nothing however professionalism publicly.
Younger’s file is the worst by means of 18 video games of any quarterback chosen with the highest decide within the Tremendous Bowl period, in line with ESPN Analysis. Behind him are Trevor Lawrence (2021, Jaguars), Troy Aikman (1989, Cowboys), Bert Jones (1973, Colts) and Jack Thompson (1979, Bengals) all at 3-15.
Aikman went on to develop into a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Canales did not make any predictions of greatness, however he did make it clear he hadn’t given up on Younger.
“This can be a developmental-minded program, so the event did not cease,” he stated. “Each rep he is on the market, we’re evaluating the entire thing, having conversations and persevering with to push all of our guys, together with Bryce, to take the following step.”
