Watch: Jets defense introduces Bryce Young to the NFL

Anyone wanting to see how the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft would handle an NFL hit didn't have to wait long.

During the Panthers' preseason opener against the New York Jets, Jermaine Johnson II got a clean hit on the rookie quarterback on a failed third-down pass attempt.

Young began the game with two completions for 13 yards before facing the third-and-6.

His day ended after Quinton Jefferson sacked him for a nine-yard loss on his third series and second consecutive three-and-out.

While his debut was by no means a rousing success — he finished 4-of-6 for 21 yards — it was far from a failure. He withstood the hits, which is what plenty of people wanted to see that he could do.

What should be more alarming for the Panthers after Saturday's game is how easily the Jets were able to get to Young. The offensive line did him no favors. It will be a long season for the rookie if he is constantly being attacked.

And if defenders are hitting Young like they're in midseason form during the preseason, it's likely Young will find himself under more intense pressure during the regular season.

The only real knock against Young coming out of college was his size — at 5-foot-10, he's tied for the league's shortest starting quarterback (Kyler Murray). In an early 2023 NFL Draft scouting report, The Athletic's Nate Tice wrote, "Every conversation about Young as a pro will begin and end with his size." 

Young weighed 204 pounds at the NFL Combine, which quieted the conversation but didn't squash it outright. Until he endures an entire season of hits like the ones he experienced against the Jets, those doubts will persist.

For his part, Young's consistently downplayed concerns about his size, both on the field and in the media. His height wasn't a deterrent while at Alabama, where he won the Heisman Trophy. 

After being selected No. 1 overall by the Panthers, he said, "Those that doubt me, I feel like everyone is entitled to their opinion ... but I choose to focus on what I can control."

The Jets made life miserable for Young in his debut but the Panthers did little to make things better. Unless Carolina figures out a way to protect Young, Saturday could be a precursor of future events.

The Panthers are going to need a lot of ice.