Dave Canales revealed his stance on Bryce Young's big day

Bryce Young finally showed flashes.  After two disappointing weeks of preseason football, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales elected to play several starters against the Buffalo Bills Saturday.  The result was a 31-26 Carolina win that saw Young lead a 12-play, 85-yard opening drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Matthews. The second-year […]

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Aug 24, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up before a pre-season game against the Buffalo Billsat Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Image via Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young finally showed flashes. 

After two disappointing weeks of preseason football, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales elected to play several starters against the Buffalo Bills Saturday. 

The result was a 31-26 Carolina win that saw Young lead a 12-play, 85-yard opening drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Matthews. The second-year quarterback's play earned him high praise from the coach brought in to resurrect his career. 

“Hell of a day,” Canales said. “Bryce looked sharp. Diontae and Adam looked great. I don’t want to go through the whole list. But anyway, the first group, I loved seeing them out there today.”

Young finished 6 of 8 for 70 yards, which was 9 more than third- and fourth-stringers Jack Plummer and Jake Luton combined for in a 15-12 loss to the New York Jets last weekend.

It was the first in-game action Young had seen all preseason. He made big throws, keeping the drive alive on fourth-and-3 by throwing a 17-yard pass. 

“I thought it was invaluable, something that we’ve got to continue to build off and carry into the future,” Young said of his play Saturday. 

“There’s practice but being able to have that in a game and there being consequences to it, I think it was great for us as an offense to be put in a situation and for us to overcome it.”

It is worth keeping in perspective, Young was playing against the Bills' second and third-string players. Buffalo rested everyone of consequence. 

Still, it was a meaningful series for Young and the Panthers offense which has struggled to score for months on end. 

The Panthers open the regular season at the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 8.