Bryce Young’s start to the 2026 season has done more than give the Panthers a jolt on the field. It has also given Dave Canales a chance to spell out exactly what he sees in his quarterback right now: a player who is steady, upbeat and increasingly in command of Carolina’s offense.
After the Panthers rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 on Sunday, Canales spoke with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated and praised the way Young has handled everything around him, not just the box-score production.
"Bryce has a lot of joy in his face, a lot of joy in the process, in our offense as we continue to grow it and evolve it," Canales explained. "And I see him really just enjoying this moment with his teammates and leading.
And he’s done that the entire time, whether he was playing or not. He’s never backed away from standing in front, high-fiving the guys coming into the locker room or coming off the field into the tunnel.
He’s right there in the front. He wants them to know, 'I’m here, we’re all working on this together.'
And he’s continuing to lead that way."
That leadership has come with strong play through Carolina’s first two games. Young opened the year in the Panthers’ 59-37 Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears, going 23-of-37 for 361 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He followed that up against Atlanta by completing 23 of 36 passes for 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Through those two outings, Young sat near the top of the league leaderboard, according to ESPN stats. He ranked second in the NFL with 648 passing yards, sixth with an 81.4 adjusted QBR and tied for first with six touchdown passes.
Canales said the production hasn’t caught him off guard.
"It’s no surprise at all because of the games he’s had over the last couple of years, where, when he puts the whole game plan together and has that understanding and ownership and the playcaller’s intent, we’ve had amazing performances," Canales added about Young’s outings. "But it’s the consistency of how it’s showing up now.
And then I think the biggest thing to talk about is his ownership of what we’re doing. And what I’ve seen from him throughout this [summer] is a lot of conversations on the side with T-Mac [wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan], with [receiver Jalen Coker], with [receiver Xavier Legette].
[Darren Waller] shows up, [Tommy Tremble], the tight ends, the backs. It’s just becoming his because I see him fine-tuning what our concepts really are."
The Panthers did not sign Young to a contract extension before the season, though the team did pick up the fifth-year option for 2027 tied to his deal. That means Carolina does not have to make a move on his future anytime soon.
For now, the focus stays on the next game. Carolina visits the 1-1 Cleveland Browns on Sept. 27, and as of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Panthers as 2.5-point road favorites.
In Other News...
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Jonathon Brooks latest setback has put the Panthers in a spot they probably hoped to avoid this early in the season. Brooks reaggravated his groin injury against the Falcons and is now considered week-to-week, leaving Carolina to sort through its backfield depth while trying to keep the offense on schedule. AJ Dillon is already in the mix, and Trevor Etienne is expected back soon, which gives the Panthers at least some internal options as they wait for clarity on Brooks.
Still, the situation has created room for outside speculation, including a possible short-term look at Chargers running back Kimani Vidal. No official move has been reported, and Carolina may decide the current group can bridge the gap without adding another body. But with Brooks sidelined again, the Panthers are suddenly weighing a decision they did not expect to be making this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Added A Name To Watch On Special Teams
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For Carolina, the move is less about immediate headlines and more about depth, flexibility and keeping a useful special teams option in the building. Smith-Marsette now joins the rest of the practice squad as another player the Panthers can evaluate, and his background suggests the team is at least taking a closer look at whether he can carve out a role beyond simply being a camp arm. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Puts Panthers Momentum To The Test Against Cleveland
After both teams shook off opening-week losses with Week 2 wins, the Panthers now get another early chance to see whether their momentum is real or just a brief September surge. Bryce Young remains central to that question, because Carolinas ability to keep building on last weeks success will depend on whether its offense can keep finding enough rhythm against a Cleveland group that can make life difficult on both sides of the ball.
The matchup also brings a classic early-season measuring stick feel, with two teams trying to establish some stability before the schedule starts to tighten. Betting trends and recent scoring patterns have pointed toward a higher-scoring game, which only adds to the intrigue for Carolina as it tries to prove the Week 2 bounce was more than a one-game rebound. [Read more 🡒]