Bryce Young has put himself in rare company to open the season, and the names sitting in front of him are about as big as it gets.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback has gone four straight games to start the year with at least 280 passing yards and a touchdown, putting him within one game of Drew Brees’ record. Add six more, and he would match Peyton Manning’s start to the 2013 season.
Young, the No. 1 pick in 2023, has done all of that while producing at a level that has been hard to ignore. Through four games, he has reached 280 passing yards and a touchdown in every outing, which is the longest such run to begin a season since Brees did it in the New Orleans Saints’ first five games in 2013 and Manning did it in the first 10 games for the Denver Broncos.
What makes the start stand out even more is how Young has done it. He has been sharp and aggressive in three of his four starts despite dealing with more quick pressures than any other quarterback in the league. Even in the one game that didn’t go cleanly, against Cleveland, he still threw for 291 yards and a touchdown while working behind constant pressure and a depleted receiving corps.
The next test comes against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have given up the seventh-most passing yards per game at 238.8. Young heads into Week 6 leading the league with 317.0 passing yards per game.
In Other News...
Panthers Fans Have One Eagles Player To Watch Very Closely
As the Panthers continue sorting out where their roster still needs help, one familiar Eagles opponent is worth keeping a close eye on. Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice looked at Philadelphias potential trade candidates and pointed to three names that could make sense for Carolina, with cornerback Riq Woolen emerging as the most obvious fit given the Panthers current needs.
Dan Morgan and his staff are expected to use the upcoming game to take a hard look at the Eagles roster, which only adds to the intrigue around Woolen. Dallas Goedert and Landon Dickerson are also on the list, but the Panthers focus appears more likely to land on the defensive backfield as they weigh where a move could help most. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Could Get 3 Key Pieces Back Right Before Eagles Game
The Panthers got a timely boost this week when Trevor Etienne, Taylor Moton and Tershawn Wharton were all designated to return to practice, giving Carolina a chance to strengthen three important spots before facing the Eagles. Each player was a full participant in Fridays session, and all three are listed as questionable heading into the matchup, a welcome development for a team trying to get healthier at the right time.
Dave Canales said Etienne is expected to be activated to the roster, while Moton and Wharton could also be back in the lineup. For Carolina, the real question now is how much of that trio will be available when the game kicks off, and whether the Panthers can turn a promising practice week into a meaningful boost against one of the leagues tougher opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face A Few Matchups That Could Decide Everything In Philly
After an early bye week, the Panthers head to Philadelphia with the kind of test that tends to reveal where a team really is in October. The focus is on a handful of individual battles that could shape the day, with Carolinas Robert Hunt, Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Bobby Okereke all facing different kinds of pressure from an Eagles group built to make life difficult in the trenches and on the perimeter.
Hunts work against Jalen Carter is the obvious heavyweight matchup, but the passing-game wrinkles may end up carrying as much weight for Carolina. McMillan and Coker will have to navigate tight coverage from Riq Woolen and Cooper DeJean, while Okerekes job gets complicated by Dallas Goederts involvement in the middle of the field. For a Panthers team trying to build momentum out of the bye, these one-on-one snaps could tell the story long before the fourth quarter does. [Read more 🡒]