Now, this is the Bryce Young the NFL was hoping for.
The 2023 No. 1 pick has played much better since returning to the Carolina Panthers’ starting lineup five weeks ago, and his recent gradual progress has been most encouraging. One coach who recently prepared his team for a game against the Panthers noted that Young’s comfort in the pocket was a starting point for his development.
Over the last five games, Young has completed 60.4% of his passes for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and an 83.5 passing percentage. He also had 82 rushing yards and one score. Not flashy numbers, but efficient.
And let’s not forget, the Panthers still have enough holes on their roster to compete for the No. 1 pick come April. Young returned to a team that was a seller again at the trade deadline.
The Athletic’s Week 14 QB Rankings
Young, who had been in charge of three coaches (one interim) over two seasons, got off to a poor start and was benched after two games. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass as the Panthers produced just 13 points in two blowout losses, and he was picked off three times and sacked six times.
So the Panthers turned to veteran Andy Dalton, a controversial move that had people around the league wondering if Young’s contract was up for good. Coach Dave Canales is recognized for his previous work with Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield, so Young’s two-game tryout with the new coach was surprisingly short since the Panthers invested so much to draft him.
If you think about it, Young’s return to the field wasn’t even in the plan. Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident, so the Panthers had no choice but to go back to Young.
He led the Panthers to convincing wins over the Saints and Giants after a 28-14 loss to the Broncos, one of his best statistical performances in his re-debut. But Young caught everyone’s attention when he attacked the Chiefs, scoring the tying goal and ultimately winning at the buzzer. And on Sunday, Young was once again in jeopardy in a tough overtime loss to the Buccaneers.
“What was surprising (before being benched) was that he tried to deal with the pressure. That wasn’t an issue in college,” a competition executive said. “He is more confident now. He had been beaten before. He looked like a battered player.
“They’ve gotten better overall on the offensive end. As he sat back, he became more confident in what he was doing.”
Young was sacked 62 times in 16 starts as a rookie, so it was understandable that he was anxious in the pocket. He also covered planning and regime changes. Forcing a young quarterback to constantly keep up with his surroundings can cause the fundamentals to disappear.
Since the chaos calmed down in Carolina, Young has grown more confident in his quality players. He had two completions of at least 20 yards in his first two starts of the season, but has had 15 plays since returning.
Things are finally moving in the right direction and Young and Canales look like a better pair than they appeared in September.
Another evaluator said, “Bryce has had a tough time, but he seems to be starting to understand the offense.” “He is better protected and has more determination. There was a reason he was first.”
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Scoop City: Ups and downs after week 13
first cousin
Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in his worst game against the Atlanta Falcons in a 17-13 loss to a strong defensive Los Angeles Chargers team. But the 36-year-old now leads the NFL with 13 interceptions and has no touchdowns on six picks during a three-game losing streak that has forced the Falcons to a tie with the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
These factors, coupled with Cousins still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, will increase pressure to turn to rookie Michael Penix Jr. The first round pick broke the Falcons’ standing. From the offseason to regular season work on the practice field. There is a lot of optimism about Penix’s future.
But even now, there is hope. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, and the Falcons are going head-to-head against the Bucs. The Falcons ranked fourth in passing yards and eighth in total yards this season, so the offense carried its weight, even if it was sporadic at times, including a pick-four performance that cost Atlanta the win.
This is to say that, in theory, Cousins should give the Falcons a better chance to make the playoffs than a rookie with five career pass attempts. Oh, and with the Falcons scheduled to visit the Minnesota Vikings soon, there’s no reason to think they’ll hold off on Cousins before an emotional game against his former team.
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But what happens if the slump continues or the Falcons fall a few games behind the Bucs? It would be logical for Penix to look long-term to leave open the possibility of moving to Plan B at least in 2025. Especially because he actually brought it down.
Considering how difficult it is to return from an Achilles injury so quickly, keeping Cousins healthy also has its benefits. Cousins has $27.5 million in guaranteed money for 2025, so it would be natural to want to get the most out of the situation.
However, these decisions are not made in a vacuum. If Penix continues to play well, there will be more pressure to play him in 2025. And if the Falcons agree with that sentiment, they’ll have to find a new home for Cousins, who has a no-trade clause.
The Falcons can deal with the financial fallout of parting ways with Cousins because they will be promoting a quarterback on his rookie contract, but it’s also the type of decision that could backfire dramatically if Penix doesn’t succeed right away. And no matter how well a quarterback actually performs, there’s no telling what he’ll look like in a game until the QB gains enough experience.
It’s a tempting thought, but it’s probably not a move the Falcons should take unless absolutely necessary.
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Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Lamar Jackson and the hot MVP race: Sando’s Pick Six
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Josh Allen returns to the top of the rankings for the first time since Weeks 4-5. The Buffalo Bills QB began the season ranked second behind Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. Allen stayed there for three weeks, then struggled for a few games before dropping to fourth place for four weeks. He got a lot of attention a week ago at No. 1, and that solidified the change with his incredible performance against the 49ers in the snow and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s loss to the Eagles.
Amari Cooper and Josh Allen connect for the ultimate snow game touchdown ✌️
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— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 2, 2024
Allen’s passing/receiving touchdown will be one of the highlights of the season, the answer to a trivia question, and perhaps one of the most iconic plays in Bills history. Maybe this could be considered his MVP moment by some.
But from this vantage point, Allen began the task of passing Jackson in the MVP race in Week 11, running for a 26-yard touchdown on 4th-and-2 to effectively beat the Chiefs. But the race is far from a formality, as Jackson, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
Excluding rushing touchdowns, where Allen has a 6-3 advantage, Jackson’s numbers are still better overall. Jackson’s Ravens also blew out Allen’s Bills in Week 4.
But the Bills are competing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and Allen continues to have big moments. There is a legitimate claim to being the leading figure in the race.
injury history
• Baker Mayfield is expected to be available for this week’s game against the Raiders, according to league sources. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB was still sore on Monday after a Panthers defender stepped on the back of his right leg on Sunday, which led to Mayfield visiting the injury tent after the game and wearing a walking boot. However, there was no need for further testing. Mayfield has suffered much more serious injuries in the past.
• Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Monday he is still evaluating options for Trevor Lawrence, who suffered a scary concussion in Sunday’s game against Texas. Lawrence will remain ranked until his availability is determined.
• Drew Lock becomes the 45th QB to be ranked this season. That’s because he started his last game for the Giants and the team refused to announce which of Daniel Jones’ former backups will start the upcoming game against the Saints.
Excluded from ranking: Giants’ Tommy DeVito (forearm injury), ranked 32nd last week.
(Bryce Young Photo: Matt Kelley / Getty Images)
