Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers had a dismal start to the 2025 NFL season.

Entering the 2025 NFL season, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has been receiving a lot of hype. After showing flashes of major potential last season, the expectation was that he would get off to a strong start this year and prove that he can be the team's long-term franchise quarterback.

Unfortunately, what happened in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars was nothing close to that.

Not only did the Panthers end up losing to the Jaguars by a final score of 26-10, Young did not look good. He was unable to get anything going offensively all game long.

When all was said and done, Young produced a stat line that saw him complete 18 of his 35 pass attempts for 154 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also ran for 40 yards on five attempts.

Those numbers look much more like his disappointing rookie season than the bright flashes he showed in year two. It's just one game, but it certainly gives Carolina fans a reason to be concerned.

Following the rough Week 1 performance, Young spoke out and got brutally honest about his level of play. He was not happy with himself, to say the least.

"Obviously can't turn the ball over like that. I cost the team. I have to be better than that, just better decision-making," Young said.

"It's on us, on me to play better. It's nothing about the organization or coach or anything like that. Gotta be better."

Despite the rough showing against Jacksonville, the Panthers will have a chance to get back on track in Week 2. Carolina will hit the road for a matchup against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals.

Young cannot afford to continue playing at the level he showed in Week 1. If that happens, his job is far from safe. On the flip side, a strong Week 2 showing would bring the hype right back to him.

There are obvious reasons for Panthers fans to be frustrated. Young, who is now in his third NFL season, needs to be better. He cannot continue to have such polar opposite ups and downs.

Hopefully, the performance against the Jaguars helps him re-center himself and find his groove moving forward. Should that not be the case, Young's long-term status as the Carolina starting quarterback could be called into question very quickly.