Panthers' Bryce Young joins elite company with winless start to career

Tim Couch — who went just 2-12 as the Cleveland Browns starting signal-caller in 1999 — had an uneventful five-season career with an underwhelming 64 passing touchdowns against 67 interceptions.

The rest of the list features one Hall of Famer, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, multiple Pro Bowlers and one rising star in the AFC who's only two years older than Young.

Troy Aikman was taken first overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and went 0-11 as a rookie, missing five games due to injury. Following the uneven debut season, Aikman (and the team as a whole) steadily began to improve.

Behind the likes of Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin, Dallas made the playoffs six straight times from 1991-96 and won three Super Bowls. The run coincided with all six of the 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee's Pro Bowl honors and he earned the Super Bowl XXVII MVP award as well.

Vinny Testaverde was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the No. 1 overall pick in 1987 and took over as the starter late that year. After going 0-4 as a rookie, he lost in Week 1 of the 1988 campaign before earning his first victory in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers.

The now-59-year-old finished with a 5-10 mark that season and stayed with the Bucs through 1992. Testaverde was the definition of a journeyman, spending time with six more teams until he retired following the 2007 campaign but made two Pro Bowls.

Jared Goff began his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 as the backup to Case Keenum but took over as the starting man under center ahead of Week 11. Goff finished his rookie year 0-7 with what is still a career-low 54.6 completion percentage.

The University of California product made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2017 and 2018, however, and led the team to two playoff berths, including a Super Bowl appearance. Goff made his third career Pro Bowl with the Detroit Lions in 2022.

Alex Smith opened his career 0-5 with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005, before winning his final two starts as a rookie and earning the starting job. Despite multiple season-ending (and nearly career-ending) injuries over his time in the NFL, Smith made three Pro Bowls (all with the Kansas City Chiefs) and the 2020 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award as well.

Eli Manning went just 1-6 with the New York Giants during his 2004 rookie season but became a franchise icon over the years with his two Super Bowl MVP awards. Manning not only made four Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls, but the titles came in two of the biggest upsets in league history over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence quickly turned his career around in 2022 under head coach Doug Pederson with a Pro Bowl nod, stunning postseason berth and equally shocking comeback playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Lawrence had a rough rookie season — going 3-14 — though many have put the majority of the blame on then-head coach Urban Meyer.

Young and the Panthers have a bye in Week 7 but will try to get their first win of 2023 when they host the Houston Texans on Oct. 29.