It might seem impossible for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft to go unnoticed, but Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has almost become a forgotten man during a season in which other rookie quarterbacks have overshadowed him each week.
But not Sunday. Young re-entered the spotlight, engineering his second comeback victory of the season as the Panthers overcame the Atlanta Falcons, 9-7, in rainy conditions at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
With the Panthers down 7-6, Bryce Young calmly led a 17-play, 90-yard drive that consumed the final 7:35 in regulation, capped by Eddy Pineiro’s third field goal of the day, a 23-yarder as time expired.
Young, who finished 18-of-24 passing for 167 yards, was perfect on all five passing attempts for 68 yards, including three pass plays of 18 yards or more.
The victory ended a six-game skid for the Panthers (2-12), and it was the first win under interim coach Chris Tabor.
Rough rookie season for Bryce Young
It’s been practically a throwaway season for Bryce Young, whose original head coach, Frank Reich, was fired only 11 games into his first season.
Young, who won the Heisman Trophy while at Alabama, has ranked near the bottom of the league in nearly every meaningful quarterback statistic. His 70.9 QB rating entering Sunday’s game ranked 45th among eligible quarterbacks, including six other rookies.
His subpar performances have left Panthers fans wondering if they wasted the No. 1 pick on the wrong quarterback. Fueling that narrative has been the play of C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, who has had a record-setting season for the Houston Texans.
With three games left in the season, Young has yet to pass for 300 yards in a game, and has only surpassed 200 yards in four games, while Stroud has thrown for more than 300 yards five times and set a single-game rookie record with 470 yards against Tampa Bay.
It also hasn’t helped Young’s cause that undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito has enjoyed his share of success, leading the New York Giants to three straight victories before Sunday’s 24-6 road loss to the New Orleans Saints.
For all the promise Young showed before he entered the NFL, the jury is still out on whether he can develop into a franchise quarterback. Next season there is no question the Panthers will hire a new offensive-minded head coach to guide him.
For now, though, Young can at least bask in the glory of Sunday’s hard-earned victory as one of his few season highlights.