Carolina Panthers DC explains how QB Bryce Young is helping the team after benching

Need more Panthers news? Get exclusive insights into the Carolina Panthers this upcoming season with our free Access Panthers newsletter. Every week on Monday and Saturday. Sign-up here.

Bryce Young has been benched. And while Carolina Panthers veteran QB Andy Dalton has taken on the first-team reps with the offense in practice this week, Young — last year’s first overall pick — is still working in a role that helps the team prepare for its Week 3 opponent.

Young is working as the scout team quarterback in practice, mimicking Las Vegas Raiders QB Gardner Minshew. Young is uniquely suited to pose as Minshew, as they have similar profiles.

Minshew is listed as 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, which is considered on the shorter side of the QB spectrum. Young, obviously, is even smaller at a listed size of 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. But while there is a two-inch, 20-pound difference between the pair, Young offers comparable pocket mobility and accuracy — at least in practice.

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has used Young’s benching to the defense’s advantage in planning for Minshew.

“It’s great,” Evero said Thursday. “When you have a guy that can move around and make plays on the move, and sit in the pocket and make throws — he did a lot of good things in practice yesterday against us, and certainly he’s making us better.”

Minshew has led the Raiders to a 1-1 record during the first two games of the season. He has completed an eye-opening 77.5% of his passes while averaging 7.5 yards per throw. He has thrown for 533 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions to begin the campaign.

While Minshew has been extremely accurate, his mobility in the pocket has not led to many positive gains on the ground. He’s taken nine sacks and picked up zero yards on four carries.

Young’s job is to mimic Minshew’s accuracy, and the hope is that the practice performance can prepare the Panthers on all three levels of the defense.

The Panthers have allowed 329 yards and five touchdowns through the air this season. The unit has only produced two combined sacks and allowed opposing QBs to complete 75% of their passes.

According to Evero, who monitored his unit’s preparation on Wednesday, Young has helped them replicate what Minshew does well.

“He did a great job for us yesterday,” Evero said. “He made a lot of plays.”