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David Newton, ESPN Workers AuthorSep 19, 2024, 05:04 PM ET
Close- David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton started overlaying Carolina in 1995 and got here to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter earlier than becoming a member of NFL Nation in 2013. You possibly can comply with Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young on Thursday admitted he was stunned when Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales benched him in favor of veteran Andy Dalton for Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders.
“As a competitor, clearly not the way you dream of what is going on to occur,” Younger mentioned in his first interview because the choice was made on Monday. “It wasn’t one thing I essentially was anticipating. Clearly, it was not one thing that was nice to listen to.
“It is on me to place them in that scenario.”
Younger, 2-16 because the starter because the Panthers (0-2) made him the highest choose of the 2023 draft, repeatedly took accountability for the choice to bench him the day after Canales mentioned Younger would begin in opposition to the Raiders.
He by no means admitted he was mad, though sources near the scenario mentioned he initially was.
Younger additionally averted hypothesis on whether or not he has a future at Carolina, though Canales mentioned on Wednesday he nonetheless believed the previous Alabama star could possibly be a franchise quarterback within the NFL.
“I am a day-by-day form of particular person,” Younger mentioned. “I’ve talked about that constantly. Huge image stuff, that is out of my palms. That is organizational stuff, for the folks upstairs. I am tremendous grateful to be a part of the workforce, with our group. I need to assist in each manner I can.”
A supply near Younger mentioned the quarterback is “open to something” because it pertains to staying with the Panthers by the tip of his rookie contract or being traded to a different workforce.
Canales mentioned on Wednesday that buying and selling Younger is “not one thing that we’re contemplating.”
Younger has spent the previous two days operating the scout workforce. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero mentioned the 5-foot-10, 204-pound Younger has carried out a terrific job of enjoying the function of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew.
“When you could have a man that may transfer round and make performs on the transfer, and sit within the pocket and make throws . . . he did a variety of good issues in apply in opposition to us, and positively he is making us higher,” Evero mentioned.
Younger mentioned his purpose is to assist the workforce nevertheless the employees sees match.
Requested if he had sufficient time to show himself after a rookie season when head coach Frank Reich was fired after a 1-10 begin and solely two video games into his second season beneath a first-year head coach, Younger mentioned that was for others to resolve.
However in the end he took accountability for statistics that have been traditionally unhealthy, together with a 9.1 Whole QBR this season that’s among the many worst in league historical past for consecutive video games.
“I had a variety of performs final yr and within the first two video games,” Younger mentioned. “For essentially the most half, each snap hit my palms and I did not do sufficient. I take accountability for that. There is a lengthy listing of issues that I want was higher and I will proceed to work and develop and enhance and be higher at.
“Everybody has circumstances. If I went on the market and performed higher and gained video games . . . and on the finish of the day that falls on me and that did not occur . . . we would not be having this dialog.”