26 July 2023 , 18:13
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Just one day of Carolina Panthers training camp is in the books and head coach Frank Reich has already settled on his starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
It has taken no time at all for number-one overall pick Bryce Young to oust veteran Andy Dalton at the top of the depth chart, with the former Alabama star set to take the first-team snaps as preparations for the new campaign accelerate.
After investing a huge amount to trade up to the top of the draft to acquire the 22-year-old in April, it is no surprise the Panthers want to waste no time throwing Young – the most polished and NFL-ready of all the quarterbacks in his draft class – into the fire.
And through rookie minicamp, Organised Team Activities and veteran minicamp, the first-year QB has ticked every box required to earn his place atop the depth chart ahead of former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys signal-caller Dalton.
"Yes, (Young is) QB1," Reich told reporters at the Wofford College facility on Wednesday. "I think Bryce has made good progress. You can just tell, he and the whole group on offense, you can just tell everybody is feeling more comfortable with it. Certainly, Bryce is as well. So we feel good about where he's at.
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"We've got a long way to go. You know, it's day one, and I know you guys all understand that, but I like where we're at."
Young enjoyed a stellar college career, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and leading the Crimson Tide to Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl Titles, but falling short against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 National Championship game.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich has been delighted by Bryce Young's performances this summer.Standing at 5ft 10in and weighing in at around 200lbs, Young is one of the smallest quarterbacks to be drafted in recent years, but his lack of stature has not held him back on the practice field so far this summer, impressing with his accuracy and decision-making.
Young welcomed the news of his promotion on the depth chart, but he insists his mindset will not change as a result.
"That means a lot. That's a huge blessing," Young said. "For me, it doesn't change my approach. Make sure that I take things day by day. There's a lot that I want to keep growing in, keep improving in.
"For me, it's a day-by-day approach. We'll watch the good and the bad from today. We'll go back and we'll learn from it and then we'll get another opportunity to come out and try to perfect it tomorrow."
Young will play his first game as the Panthers' starter on August 12 against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium in their pre-season opener. Tests against the New York Giants and Detroit Lions follow before the regular season opener at the Atlanta Falcons on September 10.