Panthers two-time Pro Bowler passionately defends Bryce Young after latest loss

There is no sign two games into Dave Canales' tenure as Carolina Panthers head coach that he is close to fixing second-year quarterback Bryce Young. 

Following Carolina's disheartening 26-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) on Sunday afternoon, Panthers veteran wide receiver and two-time Pro Bowl selection Adam Thielen offered a passionate defense of his QB1. 

"I love Bryce, man," Thielen explained, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "He works his butt off. He’s a great player. This is not a Bryce Young issue. This is an offensive team issue. We are all in this together." 

Carolina suffered a brutal 47-10 loss at the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, and Young was then historically inept as he completed 18-of-26 passes for only 84 yards with no touchdowns and an interception against the Chargers. 

According to ESPN stats, Young entered Monday ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with an 8.9 adjusted QBR and a 44.1 passer rating on the campaign. He tossed no touchdown passes and three picks across his first two starts under Canales. 

Joseph Person of The Athletic noted that Young, the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, "looks overwhelmed" facing pro defenses and is "jumping to make throws over pass rushers and seems scared to throw the ball downfield." 

Despite such takes, Canales insisted following Sunday's defeat that "Bryce is our quarterback" over veteran Andy Dalton heading into Carolina's Week 3 matchup at the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) this coming Sunday. 

"It’s not about an individual," Thielen continued during his comments. "It’s not basketball where you can have one or two good players and have success. In this league, in this game, you have to have 11 guys on the same page to have individual success. There is no individual on this offense that is to blame. It’s a collective thing." 

As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Panthers as seven-point underdogs against the Raiders. While it's understandable Panthers ownership would want Young to start until further notice, Person pointed out that "Canales risks alienating the locker room and the fan base if he continues to play a quarterback who doesn’t give the Panthers the best chance at winning." 

Canales may have to consider going to Dalton if the Panthers find themselves down by double digits at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.