Bryce Young didn’t waste much time showing a different version of himself Friday night.
A week after Carolina’s starting quarterback opened the preseason with three straight three-and-outs against the Buffalo Bills, Young looked far more comfortable against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The pocket still wasn’t exactly his friend, but this time he played with poise, moved well, and kept drives alive with his legs and his decision-making.
His opening series offered a quick reminder of how much calmer he looked. On first down, Young rolled out, saw a pass rusher closing fast, and didn’t flinch. He used a hesitation move to slip past the pressure and then zipped a pass to Tommy Tremble for a 5-yard gain.
Carolina’s first drive still stalled after a pass interference penalty on Tetairoa McMillan helped push the Panthers to midfield. From there, the run game disappeared at the line of scrimmage, Young was forced into third-and-long, and pressure showed up again. He ended the possession by throwing the ball away rather than taking a sack.
The second drive was the cleaner one, and it was the one that really defined Young’s night. He stayed active in the pocket, avoided pressure, and kept making the right reads to move the chains. He connected with Tremble, wide receiver Jalen Coker, and McMillan twice as Carolina worked its way to the goal line.
Jonathon Brooks finished the job with a 1-yard run, and that was the end of Young’s night. He was replaced by Kenny Pickett on Carolina’s third drive.
Young finished 5 of 6 for 49 yards and a 100.7 passer rating.
Preseason grades don’t mean much, especially when they come against second-string defenses. But if one had to be handed out for Friday, Young earned an “A” for a short, efficient showing.
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