Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the former No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft who was stunningly benched this week, spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since the move was announced.
Young said being benched surprised him, and it wasn't well-received news, but that he's going to try to make the best of the tough situation.
"It was not something that I necessarily I was expecting," Young told reporters during locker room availibility. "Obviously, not something that was great to hear.
"But I respect coach (Dave) Canales, I respect the organization. They made the decision. … Right now that's the situation that it is. I have to do everything I can to help the team in whatever way I can."
Young had a trying rookie season, completing 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards, with 11 TD passes, 10 interceptions and 11 fumbles (six lost). Much was made of his surrounding cast and situation, which included firing head coach Frank Reich midseason and frequent shuffling of play-calling duties.
But through two games this season, Young was somehow worse -- a 55.4% completion percentage, 245 yards, zero TDs and three interceptions -- in spite of an offseason overhaul intended to make his life easier. Hiring Canales was a big part of the offseason plan for Young, which made the quick hook more surprising.
"We had a ton of drives, a ton of games and I didn't do enough during that," Young said. "I look in the mirror, and I take accountability for that."
Where Young goes from here is hard to forecast. Does he still view himself as a franchise quarterback?
"I have confidence in myself," Young said. "I've always had confidence in myself. Again, it's a day-to-day thing. I always feel like at the end of the day I'm a competitor. Whenever there's a football and there's a field out there, I have the utmost confidence in myself.
"It's been great with these guys too, having teammates I can lean on as well. That's not something that's going to waver. Again, what the circumstances are, what happens that's up for God to decide. That's out of my hands."
Andy Dalton is slated to make his first start of the season and just his second since 2022. The 0-2 Panthers will travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, seeking their first road victory since the end of the 2022 season. Young will serve as the Panthers' No. 2 QB.
Asked how he'll handle the new assignment following his demotion, Young said he's focusing on the short term.
"Really right now, I'm a day-by-day type of person," he said. "… Big-picture stuff, that's out of my hands. That's in God's hands. Organizational stuff, that's with the people upstairs."
The Panthers traded a haul prior to the 2023 draft to pick Young, a debt they're still paying off. They owe the Chicago Bears their second-round choice in the 2025 NFL Draft after already sending them wide receiver DJ Moore and a package of picks that included the selection that became Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall this spring.
Whether Young can ever turn it around in Carolina is anyone's guess, but he said he remains thankful and committed to the team for as long as he's still on the roster.
"I'm super grateful to be part of the team, to be part of the organization," Young said. "I'm going to help the team any way I can, and that's my focus."
