Bryce Young is going to start for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. He is set up to fail.
The former No. 1 overall pick will play against a top-five defense without his top-two pass-catchers.
Young was completely blindsided by head coach Dave Canales’ decision to bench him in favor of Andy Dalton after an 0-2 start to the 2024 NFL season. However, the organization has not given up on the 23-year-old quarterback and his attitude over the last few weeks earned him a lot of praise.
Dalton was originally scheduled to be the starter for the upcoming game against the Denver Broncos. Canales did not make another switch on his own accord. It was forced upon him.
Dalton sprained his thumb in a car crash earlier this week and was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Even though he is listed as “doubtful,” the team is preparing to move forward without him. Young is back in the saddle as the starting quarterback for the Panthers.
Unfortunately, he is not in a position to succeed. This is one of the worst possible games for an already-flustered player to be thrust back into the lineup after being yanked out of the lineup in the first place clearly messed with his psyche.
First and foremost, Bryce Young will face the fifth-ranked passing defense in the league. Denver is allowing less than six yards per attempt and only six total touchdowns through the air.
To make matters worse, Young will be without Carolina’s two best receivers. Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson are out. Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette and David Moore are the primary targets.
If that wasn’t bad enough, offensive tackles Yosh Nijman and Taylor Moton may or may not play. If they do, they won’t be at 100% in terms of their health.
Yikes.
Bryce Young has a chance to do the unthinkable on Sunday. A win over the Broncos would be such an epic return.