What should Carolina Panthers fans expect from quarterback Bryce Young in Preseason Week 2 against the New York Giants?
Bryce Young made his Carolina Panthers debut in Week 1 of the preseason during a game that was difficult to evaluate. The quarterback wasn't protected well or put in a position to make NFL-level throws due to vanilla play calling, which piled more pressure on the rookie than needed.
While it's a mistake to draw any concrete conclusions from preseason, it would be encouraging to see improvement from Young and the offense in Preseason Week 2 at the New York Giants. There is a lot riding on the signal-caller being the right decision after a significant move to No. 1 overall, but it's also worth remembering we are still early in the process.
Parting ways with a wealth of draft capital as well as star receiver D.J. Moore, this team truly needs the combination of Young and Frank Reich to work. After seasons of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker, and an old Cam Newton, the bar is truly low at the quarterback position.
Young simply needs to be a capable starter to give Carolina fans reason to feel hopeful they can win the NFC South. The division is clearly wide open with the Panthers having as much of an argument as anyone to feel they are a threat to host a home playoff game in 2023.
With all of this in mind, let's look at three things Carolina fans should hope to see from Young and this offense during the second week of preseason.
Bryce Young gets a chance to go through progressions more frequently
Bryce Young didn't have time to read the field or show what he can truly do as any NFL quarterback last time out. Even in a vanilla offense for the preseason, the former Alabama star was simply running for his life and attempting to make the quick throws as pressure from the New York Jets came quickly.
That isn't on Young. But blame can be placed on the coaching staff and most obviously the offensive line in front of him.
There are reasons for concern with the offensive line. Overreacting to one preseason game would be a mistake, but if there are back-to-back games of Young being under constant duress, the concern ticks up a bit for a Carolina Panthers team playing with a quarterback that isn't typically built to take consistent NFL punishment.
Young is a great signal-caller and more than worthy of being the first name called during the 2023 NFL Draft. But the one concern people have is the size issue and whether or not he will be able to hold up to punishment.
No quarterback will stay healthy with the level of play we saw from the Panthers' offensive line last week - let alone properly run an offense. All eyes will be on Carolina's protection early in this one at the New York Giants.
Bryce Young needs to show chemistry veteran targets
The one obvious downside of landing Bryce Young following a bombshell trade with the Chicago Bears is the loss of D.J. Moore. Through bad quarterback play and poor coaching, the one consistent part of the offense the Carolina Panthers could count on in seasons past is no longer around.
This is a team that now lacks one clear alpha target. However, they do boast a myriad of great secondary options following a frantic period of recruitment over free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.
The bulk of chemistry will obviously be built in practice and the time spent together during the regular season. However, Panthers fans would like to see Young demonstrate improved chemistry with his top targets as a sign that Frank Reich and Thomas Brown's offense will be consistent and cohesive - even without Moore as a primary target.
It is also fair to temper expectations for Young a bit considering the lack of an elite receiver. As we have seen from Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts, it takes patience and time to adjust to this level.
While all four aforementioned quarterbacks showed flashes of being good early on, it was the addition of a top receiver that cemented their status as top quarterbacks in this league. Whether the Panthers have one on their roster ready to emerge or need to go after a prominent veteran next spring remains to be seen.
Bryce Young sitting on the bench before halftime
Carolina Panthers fans want to see better protection and growth from their rookie quarterback. But there is also a need for this team to save the hits for when they matter.
Even if the protection is better for Bryce Young in the second week of the preseason, how much he'll play remains to be seen. Frank Reich stated he'll start again, but it's unlikely to be anything more than a few series all things considered.
Even with Andy Dalton as a capable backup, the fate of the season rests on what Young is or isn't as a rookie. The Panthers are going to have to balance getting the Heisman Trophy winner reps and building chemistry while also making sure that there is little chance of an injury happening during a game that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Carolina opens the season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons in what could serve as a tone-setting game for the NFC South race. That should be the first time that Young plays a complete game with the Panthers - not over the next two warmup outings.
Limiting snaps in both of their final preseason matchups allows Young to get in rhythm while limiting the risks. That's a win-win at this stage of his development.