Bryce Young just finished his best workout of the summer. Any fears surrounding the quarterback were greatly alleviated after a stellar performance during a joint workout with the New York Jets. It was the clearest sign yet that head coach Dave Canales’ improved teachings are having the desired effect on the promising signal-caller.
Young had a disastrous rookie season. No one denies that his performance could have been better. What some who like to criticize the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft often fail to recognize is how badly he was let down by the previous Carolina Panthers regime – none of whom are still there.
Thursday’s practice against an impressive Jets defense was a huge confidence boost, but fans continued to demand that the Heisman Trophy winner get some live action in a typical game setting during the preseason to improve chemistry with his pass catchers and new starting center Austin Corbett.
This is clearly a dilemma for Canales, who wants to protect his most prized asset while also running out of time to get Young through the necessary drills before Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints.
As it turns out, Canales was once again too cautious with Young. The signal-caller, like most of the other starters, was inactive in the second week of the preseason, causing some excitement among those eager to see the quarterback on the field.
Carolina’s first team had a lot to work on in their joint practice on Thursday. Canales felt that under these circumstances, it would not be right to put any more strain on the players’ bodies – no matter how long. He has every right to do so, especially given the increasing injury problems.
Some fans may not like that. Canales won’t care.
The Panthers have just one more preseason game at the Buffalo Bills before attention quickly turns to the regular season. With no further joint practices planned, Canales has a little more leeway to bring Young in. If not, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator is banking on the training and his improved methods bearing immediate fruit.
If Young misses next weekend’s game and then continues to struggle early in the season, questions will be raised. Canales is willing to accept that and is completely committed to everything he does. But this is an example of how precarious the situation is between the team and a fan base that is tired of being dragged through the mud.
Young is probably dying to see some work in warm-up games when it matters less. It’s about regaining confidence, rhythm and the self-awareness that has waned in his game in 2023. At the same time, Canales is a smart quarterback developer and should be trustworthy for the time being.
Fans are disappointed, especially those who paid big money to see them in action. They want to see the best on the field to see how things pan out. However, their head coach is more interested in playing the long game than appeasing voices from outside the organization.
It’s a risk. Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen.
