The Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, since entering the league, Young has had a roller coaster of a career.
After an underwhelming rookie campaign, Young lost the starting job shortly into his second season, being replaced at the top of the depth chart by veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
Young eventually reclaimed his starting role after Dalton injured his wrist in a car accident, and never relinquished the job again. Now, Panthers head coach Dave Canales is reflecting on what he saw from his young quarterback during that time.
“He continued to lead throughout that process,” Canales said, per Next Impulse Sports “He earned a lot of respect from his teammates, from me, that regardless of the situation — he didn’t agree with me on the decision not to play him — but he worked and he kept leading.
“He was showing me, ‘This is my team.’ And he was showing his teammates, ‘You’re my guys.’”
Canales had more to say about Young’s leadership.
“He came back in and we started to grow together, and then building into that into the offseason, the leadership continued,” he said.
“That was the most impressive part to me. It’s a real challenge, we’ve seen different situations, different scenarios on teams where a top pick is struggling and can get isolated from teammates. He just stepped up.”
Hopefully, Young can put it all together and show the league he has what it takes to remain a starter in the league.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.