The Carolina Panthers and Bryce Young have been on a roller coaster.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick was benched by midway through last season. But when he won his job back, he looked much improved.
That created a sense of optimism heading into the 2025 NFL season, which the Panthers opened on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Some were even projecting that Young would play well enough this time around to earn a contract extension after the season.
But now, at least after one week, all the questions and concerns about Young are back. Was all he did at the end of the 2024 season just a tease?
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He had a nightmare day against the Jags.
Young threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. And there should've been a third interception, one that was returned for a touchdown, if not for a defensive holding penalty away from the play.
The former Alabama star finished 15-for-31 for 144 yards with a late, meaningless touchdown.
It's a small-sample size, but it matches up a lot more with Young's larger sample of struggles that preceded last season's late surge.
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Each time he plays a game like this, it's harder to see how Young can be Carolina's franchise quarterback.
He'll have a chance to rebound this season, because at least for now, the Panthers are counting on him to be their guy.
But Young will have to bounce back in a hurry, or his time as Carolina's starting QB could come to an end, again.
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