Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young struggled against the Houston Texans' defense.
The Carolina Panthers held a joint practice with the Houston Texans on Wednesday (8/26) and QB Bryce Young had a rough day.
Young was sacked four times. He also threw two interceptions.
Houston arguably has the best defense in the NFL, so Panthers fans shouldn't worry too much about Young's struggles.
However, Young can't have these type of performances in the regular season.
Last season, Young finished with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
Young is set to make $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
The first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Young enters this season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
Carolina has a difficult 2026 schedule. They face the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
If Young plays well, he will get paid next offseason.
However, if Young struggles in 2026, he may not be on the Panthers in 2027.
“I’m not a big sit back, reflect, compare (person). Doesn’t really do anything for me. So I don’t think about the past like that,” Young said. “I’m happy with the camp we’re having so far. I’m happy with the growth as a unit. But it’s still early. We’ve got a lot more to do.”
The Panthers open the 2026 season against the Bears at home. That game features two No. 1 overall picks: Young and Caleb Williams.
Dave Canales reiterated the Panthers' commitment to Young for the 2026 season, but the coach said in an interview on Stephen A. Smith's Sirius XM show that any talk of a potential long-term pact with Young will be the responsibility of the front office.
Smith specifically asked Canales whether Young, who led the Panthers to an NFC South title last season, is the team's franchise quarterback.
"He is right now," Canales said with a smile. "He's our guy -- he's our guy, and I love the trajectory that he's on. And not just the stuff that he's growing in -- from just an operational standpoint, moving the offense, finding chemistry and all that stuff -- but it's also just the critical moments, you know? It's those games, it's the close games, it's the one-score game at the end.
"Whether we're up or down, I love having Bryce out there," Canales continued. "I love that he stays cool, calm and collected and aggressive, and he attacks at the right time. So, all those things are pointing in the right direction -- I'll just let the rest of the stuff just sort itself out, with all the conversations with his whole group and party and our front office here with [general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis] working that part out. But for me, especially now not calling plays, I get to just enjoy this road, help him improve on a daily basis and really take that input and get him to take the next step."
