Bryce Young is named Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback as No. 1 overall pick looks to deliver struggling franchise its first Super Bowl
- Bryce Young was selected by the Panthers after starring in college at Alabama
- And he’ll be tasked with bringing the team back to the postseason
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Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich wasted no time naming rookie Bryce Young the team’s starting quarterback for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
‘Yes, he’s our QB1,’ Reich said Wednesday.
The announcement came after the completion of the Young’s first NFL training camp practice at Wofford College, although the news seemed imminent after Young took over first-team reps from veteran Andy Dalton back during organized team activities.
Young, a two-year starter at Alabama, will become the first rookie to start a Week 1 game for the Panthers since Cam Newton in 2011. Newton was also a No. 1 pick.
Reich vowed to be patient as Young develops as a quarterback.
Bryce Young was all smiles as he flashed a peace sign Wednesday at Panthers practice
The QB is set to start Week 1 ahead of Sam Darnold, who’s spent the last two years in Carolina
Young will be the first rookie to start a Week 1 game for the Panthers since Cam Newton in 2011
The Panthers have not been to the playoffs since 2017 and Young has been entrusted with the task of making Carolina relevant again.
‘The expectations for me and really everyone are to just push each other and make sure we get the best that we can out of each other every single day,’ Young said Tuesday on the eve of his first NFL training camp practice.
‘If we keep stacking those days then that’s all we can really control.’
Panthers owner David Tepper said in April he anticipates the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Young winning multiple Super Bowls for Carolina.
‘There is no sure thing here, but it’s a probability sort of (thing) — and we thought he has the best probability of winning Super Bowls,’ Tepper said.
The Panthers have been searching for quarterback stability for the past five seasons, a journey that includes signing free agent Teddy Bridgewater, trading for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, bringing back Newton for an unsuccessful second stint and a failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson.