Panthers’ Young remains positive and determined to improve after being benched | Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young on Thursday admitted he was stunned when Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales benched him in favor of veteran Andy Dalton for Sunday's recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders.

“As a competitor, obviously not how you dream of what's going to happen,” Young said in his first interview since the decision was made on Monday. “It wasn't one thing I essentially was anticipating. Obviously, it was not one thing that was nice to hear.

“It's on me to put them in that situation.”

Young, 2-16 as the starter since the Panthers (0-2) made him the top pick of the 2023 draft, repeatedly took responsibility for the decision to bench him the day after Canales said Young would start against the Raiders.

He never admitted he was mad, although sources close to the situation said he initially was.

Young also avoided speculation on whether he has a future at Carolina, although Canales said on Wednesday he still believed the former Alabama star could be a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

“I'm a day-by-day sort of particular person,” Young mentioned. “I've talked about that consistently. Big picture stuff, that's out of my hands. That's organizational stuff, for the people upstairs. I'm super grateful to be part of the team, with our organization. I want to help in every way I can.”

A source close to Young said the quarterback is “open to something” because it pertains to staying with the Panthers via the top of his rookie contract or being traded to one other staff.

Canales mentioned on Wednesday that buying and selling Young is “not something that we're considering.”

Young has spent the past two days running the scout team. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said the 5-foot-10, 204-pound Young has done a great job of playing the role of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew.

“When you've got a man that may transfer round and make performs on the transfer, and sit within the pocket and make throws . . . he did plenty of good issues in observe towards us, and actually he is making us higher,” Evero mentioned.

Young mentioned his purpose is to assist the staff nevertheless the employees sees match.

Asked if he had sufficient time to show himself after a rookie season when head coach Frank Reich was fired after a 1-10 begin and solely two video games into his second season below a first-year head coach, Young mentioned that was for others to determine.

But in the end he took accountability for statistics that had been traditionally dangerous, together with a 9.1 Total QBR this season that's among the many worst in league historical past for consecutive video games.

“I had a lot of plays last year and in the first two games,” Young said. “For essentially the most half, each snap hit my fingers and I did not do sufficient. I take accountability for that. There's a protracted listing of issues that I want was higher and I'll proceed to work and develop and improve and be higher at.

“Everyone has circumstances. If I went on the market and performed higher and received video games . . . and on the finish of the day that falls on me and that did not occur . . . we would not be having this dialog.”