‘100% on me’: Panthers QB Bryce Young takes ownership for struggles after benching

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Bryce Young stood in front of a large photo of Panthers legend Greg Olsen in the Carolina locker room Thursday and took accountability for his shortcomings during his still very young NFL career.

Young, who was benched on Monday in favor of veteran QB Andy Dalton, went 2-16 in first 18 NFL starts. His career completion percentage is 59.3%, and he’s thrown 13 interceptions compared to 11 passing touchdowns.

To open his second season, with first-year head coach Dave Canales at the helm, Young has produced just 245 passing yards and three interceptions with a passer rating of 44.1 in two games.

Last year’s first overall pick was rushed onto the field in Week 1 of his abysmal rookie season. And he has spent the past 18 games looking more like a wasted pick than a franchise QB.

Still, the Heisman trophy-winner isn’t making excuses.

“At the end of the day, we had a ton of drives, we had 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. So again, I touched the ball, I was on the field. So things that didn’t go well during that time, that’s 100% on me and no one else. So, again, I gotta look in the mirror, I gotta be better.

“I’m going to continue to work each and every day. The circumstances are what the circumstances are, that’s not out of my control and I’m gonna keep trying to control what I can do.”

Young spent the first two days of practice this week working with the scout team. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero complimented Young’s work against his unit, as the second-year QB has mimicked Las Vegas Raiders starting QB Gardner Minshew.

Young, who previously served as a backup QB for Mac Jones at Alabama during his freshman season, is looking to help Dalton and the rest of the team with their roles being reversed.

“I love Andy,” Young said. “We’re super close. And, I love this team, I love my teammates, so it’s not hard to root for them, to try to do everything I can to help, to play my role, and to try just be around and help whatever way I can. Really, because of those factors, it’s not hard to do.”

As Young faltered on the field to begin the season, there was speculation that the former top pick had lost his confidence. Young said he relies on his faith and religious beliefs when it comes to maintaining perspective.

“I have confidence in myself,” Young said. “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. And that’s not something that’s going to waver. Again, what the circumstances are, what happens, that’s up for God to decide. And it’s out of my hands, but that feeling isn’t going to change.”

Young acknowledged that he didn’t expect his benching, but also didn’t state his desire to move on from Carolina after the decision was made. He was asked if he felt like he had a future with the Panthers, and Young kept his outlook open-ended.

“Really, right now, I’m a day-by-day type of person,” Young said. “I’ve kind of talked about that consistently. You know, big-picture stuff, that’s out of my hands. That’s in God’s hands. Organizational stuff — that’s with the people upstairs.

“So, I’m super grateful to be part of the team, be part of the organization, I want to help the team whatever way I can, and that’s my focus.”