With backup Haynes King sidelined by injury, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales risks Bryce Young’s health in a high-stakes preseason gamble aimed at sharpening the starters for Week 1.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King lit up the defensive reserves of the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, leading the offense down the field before a game-winning touchdown scramble to make the score 33-30.
King went 21-of-34 on pass attempts for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He had three rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Preseason is the time for backups and rookies to get a chance to compete on the field before the regular season. Because King suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday night, he's expected to miss the Panthers' second preseason game on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills as he's week-to-week with the issue.
On Sunday, Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed a decision that will be viewed as controversial by the fan base and in the media, opting to play quarterback Bryce Young and his starters against the Bills.
"Yes, yes," Canales said of playing his starters against Buffalo, via USA Today. "We will play this week, for sure. We'll take it week by week. We'll get them out there—probably play something similar to what Kenny [Pickett] and that group played in the Hall of Fame Game.
"So it'll be somewhere between 10 and 20 plays depending on how those drives pan out, so we can just get some good work in."
Playing Young, a quarterback who needs to have a stellar season before negotiating for a better contract during the 2027 offseason, is a risk for the Panthers and the signal-caller as he risks taking an injury during those 10 to 20 snaps on Saturday.
Carolina signed backup quarterback Kyle Trask as insurance with King out. Certainly, he could use extra snaps in the preseason.
However, Canales is choosing to give his starters more reps in the preseason, which could better prepare them for Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Young is excited for the opportunity.
"I'm excited to just be able to get out there with the guys," Young said. "Anytime you get to play football, live in a stadium, it's a privilege.
"Especially being able to go out there last week, you're around it. Obviously, I wasn't playing—but you get that itch again."
The Panthers hope Young doesn't feel more discomfort than an itch after Saturday's game. His health is consequential to Carolina repeating as NFC South champs.
