It was a rookie season to forget for Bryce Young . The first pick of the 2023 draft failed to live up to expectations of making an instant impact for the Carolina Panthers, finishing the season with just two wins. However, Young has received a vote of confidence from veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen .
It was the 33-year-old’s first season with the Panthers after spending most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He moved to Carolina after owner David Tepper promised a Super Bowl run because they were drafting one of the best quarterbacks to come out of college football in recent years.
Tepper had to eat his words and fired head coach Frank Reich when it was clear they would be dead last in the league. Thielen claimed Young was set up to fail because he did not have the offensive line required to keep him safe. On top of that, there weren’t enough quality players to help him transition from college to the NFL.
I think everything was stacked against him last year. And I'm not going to get into detail as to why that was, but I'm just really excited for him to have a fresh start. Adam Thielen said while appearing on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Wednesday, per NFL.com‘s Kevin Patra
Adam Thielen has faith that Bryce Young will shine in his second year
Despite his turbulent first year in the NFL, in which he had a passing completion rate of just 59.8%, Bryce Young showed a glimpse that there is still a player in the 5-foot-10-inch frame. During his last two games, PFF graded him 84.3, which would have put the Alabama graduate in the top five quarterbacks.
Thielen pointed out that, even in tight situations, Young did not let his head drop.
I think what he really showed was [his] maturity over the year. His ability at times to just be very honest in front of the room and say, 'Hey, this is what I'm [not] doing very well, and this is what I need to get better at, and please hold me accountable,' I thought was really impressive. Adam Thielen said
During the offseason, Tepper made some big moves, adding quality pieces to the Panthers roster. It started with the head coach appointing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
Canales helped both Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith revive their careers after fans and analysts wrote them off. Furthermore, they have addressed the woes on the offensive line by signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Last but not least, the Carolina Panthers acquired Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers to help ease Thielen’s workload, who was their best receiver with 1,014 yards and 4 touchdowns.
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