NFL insider expects Panthers to stick with Bryce Young at quarterback

Bryce Young has metaphorically returned from the dead this season. The Carolina Panthers benched him this year after two bad starts before benching him again in Week 8. Since then, he has thrown four touchdowns and led the team to a 2-1 record. Despite this, Dave Canales has not committed to him this past week.

He has remained non-committal each week and even said he might be interested in seeing what Andy Dalton has and if he is an option for the future. As inexplicable as that is, one NFL insider believes the Panthers will ultimately do the smart thing with Young.

It has caused quite a stir within the Panthers fanbase that Dave Canales clearly sees an improved Bryce Young under center, but he remains coy on who the starter will be. It would be a shock if Young returns to the bench now, but Canales appears to want that option open. However, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler doesn’t believe it.

“I expect the Panthers to stick with Bryce Young. They felt Young played better in Week 10, despite throwing for 45 fewer yards than the week before and attempting nearly as many pass attempts (25 against the Giants on Sunday compared to 26 the previous week) week versus the saints),” he said. “He was more efficient and threw with conviction on time. So while coach Dave Canales is still mum about the post-bye starter, it’s now starting to feel like Young is keeping the job based on merit.”

Young’s play was much closer, but not quite there, to what the Panthers wanted when they traded the literal farm to move up and get him last year. He has had some ups and downs, with emphasis on the downs, but remains an intriguing option for the future. It behooves the Panthers to understand that and play Young to find out how intriguing an option he really is.