Panthers: Bryce Young shows frustration; first instances of growing pains

It has been smooth sailing to this point in rookie quarterback Bryce Young's career. He's impressed nearly every veteran on the roster. Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich named him the starter halfway through the summer and reconfirmed that choice after the first day of training camp. And then Young shut the show down during the […]

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Aug 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; quarterback Bryce Young (9) during Carolina Panthers Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

It has been smooth sailing to this point in rookie quarterback Bryce Young's career. 

He's impressed nearly every veteran on the roster. Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich named him the starter halfway through the summer and reconfirmed that choice after the first day of training camp. And then Young shut the show down during the rookie talent show, adding another chapter to the quarterback's early career lore. 

But recently, Young showed his first instance of frustration. During Saturday's practice, he couldn't get the offensive play off before the whistle after moving the offense into scoring position in a two-minute drill. Young reportedly put his hands on the sides of his helmet and shook his head as the defense celebrated the stop. It was a rare moment for a player Reich and Carolina players said never gets rattled.

"He's really harder on himself more than anybody,'' Reich said after one of the longest and hottest practices of camp. "A quarterback, you've just got to be unflappable. And I think we all know Bryce has that gene. Nothing really changes his pulse.

"But yet, he's the ultimate competitor, he's got that drive to be great. So that's what you want.''

It was a difficult day for Young, who dealt with receiver miscommunication and passes that couldn't find their target. 

"As a competitor, we all get frustrated,'' Young said. "But we have to do a better job of bringing stuff back and really stepping back and making sure that even if it's not our day, for one period or one play, we're able to flip the script.

"We didn't do a good enough job of that today. But that's what training camp is for.''

The good news for the Panthers is that moving forward, Young is already tossing out the difficult practice and attempting to move on — like a 10-year veteran. 

"There are only two options at a certain point,'' Young said. "Are you going to let it dwell? Or are you going to let it affect you the next play? Or are you going to move on and get better? And the only thing you can do is focus on the next rep.

"So you're constantly turning the page.''

Despite the difficult practice, Young is still showing the world that the franchise didn't make a mistake when they handed him the keys to the future. 

Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.