Panthers’ rookie QB Bryce Young addresses getting BRUTALLY hit multiple times during his preseason debut against Aaron Rodgers’ Jets
Young says being taken down by the opposition players is part of the job description.
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Bryce Young says his fine despite being hammered by Jets players in his Panthers debut (Image via Carolina Panthers)
The New York Jets may be the featured team in HBO’s Hard Knocks this year, but it was the Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young that got knocked around when they met on Saturday in a pre-season friendly. However, the first-round pick states that it’s all part of being a football player.
“That’s part of the game,” Bryce Young told reporters after the Panthers lost 27-0. “Football is a physical sport. You’re gonna get hit. That’s the game we play.”
The 23-year-old had to endure some heavy barrages from the get-go. He ate three pops during the match, two off the bat. The first one came from his own throw, an 8-yard completion to wide receiver Adam Thielen. Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas rammed his 6-foot-2 frame into Young.
His next clobbering came when New York Jets’ Jermaine Johnson saw the opportunity in the middle of the first quarter and took it by bringing down Young. Despite all the hits, Young wants to remain optimistic. “It’s part of the job; you know that’s coming,” he said. “Can’t let that affect your decision-making.”
His afternoon ended after a sack in the third by Quinton Jefferson. Young managed to complete four of his six passing attempts for 21 yards.
That many body shots can take a toll on the player’s physicality as well as their mentality. It’s a massive leap from the college level to the NFL for Bryce Young. The game becomes faster, meaner, and psychologically challenging. But Young wants to fight that and get better.
The Panthers’ leaky offensive line blamed for Bryce Young being clobbered against the Jets
It’s no surprise that the quarterback will always be one of the most targeted players during a football match. To protect their blushes in the line of scrimmage, teams require heavy hitters. Against the Jets, however, the Panthers offensive line felt like a leaky pot. So much so that offensive line coach James Campen had to call for a team meeting.
“The s— wasn’t good enough,” veteran tackle Cam Erving fumed after the hurdle broke, according to David Newton of ESPN. “No matter if it’s preseason, the s— was not good enough.”
Despite the setback, Erving wants to look at the positive side and right the wrongs. “We found out he [Bryce Young] can take a hit,” he said. ” [But] we have to make sure we do a better job of protecting him.”
The biggest concern, however, for the Carolina Panthers is that the Jets did not field Aaron Rodgers. Although they lost their first preseason game against the Broncos, they returned stronger. Maybe this is a sign of things to come in September.
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)