Bryce Young has led the Carolina Panthers to back-to-back wins for the first time in his NFL career. Before their bye in Week 11, Young led the team to a 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, followed by a 20-17 overtime win against the New York Giants in Week 10.
Despite the second-year quarterback’s resurgence, Cam Newton still has his reservations. The Panthers legend found a major flaw in Young’s game and recently talked about it.
Cam Newton Points Out Bryce Young’s Bad Habit
Newton pointed out that the Panthers quarterback is still not stepping up in the pocket, which is not an ideal thing. He mentioned that it may be due to Young’s lack of trust in the offensive line and might have a long-term effect on the Alabama product’s future in the league.
“Gotta step up in the pocket. … It’s a bad habit,” said Newton on the “4th&1” podcast. “Off your back foot, move forward; it helps your accuracy. It helps with so much. But, in his defense, he doesn’t trust that pocket, so he’s gonna keep backing up. It’s traumatic in there, so he’s not going to get in the position that’s going to cave in because he hasn’t built the trust yet.
“… You’re seeing ghosts, you know what I’m saying — you’re becoming what they call ‘shell shocked.’ Are you developing the quarterback the right way? Sometimes, some quarterbacks are far too gone. You can have high expectations for a person, and they never can meet that because of what they have been [exposed] to.”
Young was sacked 62 times during his rookie season and completely lost his confidence. Dave Canales benched him after just two games this season, and it looked like the 23-year-old quarterback’s future lay somewhere other than Carolina.
Bryce Young Comeback SZN? pic.twitter.com/JlD8Qv4OZC
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 10, 2024
Since returning as Carolina’s starting quarterback in Week 8, Young has delivered the best performances of his NFL career. Over the past three games, he has thrown for 521 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions with a completion rate of 62.5% and a passer rating of 79.8, leading the Panthers to a 2-1 record.
The Panthers gave up a lot to draft Young, and the franchise must support his development under Canales. The bye week came at a good time for the Panthers, as it gives coaches enough time to ensure that they get the most out of Young in the remaining games.
Panthers Are Set To Host the Chiefs in Week 12
The Panthers have won their last two games but will face the toughest test of their season in Week 12. Carolina will host the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, and the defending Super Bowl champions will be desperate to bounce back from their Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
It will be a huge game for Young as he will face one of the NFL’s top defenses. If he plays even a subpar game and is not the reason his team loses, it can be termed a positive sign for the Panthers.
Carolina is not a contending team this year, and the rest of the season is just about finding out whether or not Young is their franchise quarterback. If he continues to struggle, the Panthers may consider drafting a replacement in the 2025 NFL Draft, with prospects like Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jalen Milroe already viewed as potential upgrades.
For Young, it’s essential to silence these narratives with good performances moving forward.