Bryce Young (knee) practicing in full for Week 4

Canales didn’t want to get specific about Young’s status after he took a cleat to the leg, but deferred also to the idea of “other things.” It’s never incredible news to be looking down the barrel of imaging, but Young was able to return and play through the injury on Sunday and this has the feel of an “out of an abundance of concern” test for the 25-year-old quarterback.

Young was also in and out of the blue tent with a “lower-body injury” head coach Dave Canales said was affecting the power on some of his throws. That does not include his game-sealing interception, which was a batted pass around the 0:10 mark as a timeout-less Panthers offense desperately drove for what would have been a game-tying field goal. It was a day of adversity on the road, as Young also lost Jalen Coker to a quad injury after the wideout entered the proceedings with an ankle issue. That was one reason Young was spreading the ball around to fantasy nonentities like Brycen Tremayne and Mitchell Evans. The Browns put the clamps on Tetairoa McMillan. Today was probably an inevitable correction to Young’s sizzling start, though the volume is still what fantasy managers are looking for. He has a bounce-back Week 4 spot in the defense-less Lions.

Young got off to a slow start with just one touchdown on his first five drives. He found Xavier Legette for a 55-yard completion just before halftime, setting up an eventual strike to Darren Waller for six. Young rode the momentum into the third quarter and found Waller in the end zone once again coming out of halftime. That alone was enough to seal the game, and Young even got to take some time off in the fourth quarter. Young pushed the ball downfield with ease, just like he did in last week’s shootout with the Bears. While the passing volume may come down at some point, Young looks like a different quarterback in year four. He is moving up the QB2 ranks heading into his Week 3 date with the Browns.

It was the fourth 300-yard outing of Young’s NFL career and it came in a wild back-and-forth affair with a Chicago offense that did whatever it wanted to against a pathetic Carolina defense. The Panthers had to abandon their run-heavy offense in the first half, leading to 44 Young drop backs. Young targeted Jalen Coker relentlessly and connected with Coker for two touchdowns — one of them in garbage time. Young, who was seven percent above his expected completion rate, made a handful of impressive throws under duress and found his way into the end zone on a short rush in the first half. Young will be a premiere streaming option in Week 2 against a middling Atlanta defense.

Young has two years remaining on his contract, but is currently eligible for an extension. According to Wolfe, Young needs to improve in three areas. First, Young must check down when it’s the responsible thing to do, in turn elevating his completion rate to the “high 60s, low 70s” range. Second, Young must be comfortable playing with tempo and diverse personnel formations, including WR Tetairoa McMillan lining up in the slot more often. Third, Young must play quickly and decisively. Whether he can accomplish these feats is up in the air. He’s a mid-to-low QB2 for fantasy purposes.

Reporters first asked whether Young had received an offer from the team. Tepper passed on answering. A reporter then asked what would prompt the team to offer Young an extension. Tepper initially declined to answer once again, before adding, “but look, success is success. And you know it when you see it.” Anything is possible, but given those remarks, it seems plausible that no offer was made. The Panthers picked up Young’s fifth-year team option in April, keeping the 25-year-old quarterback under contract through 2027. This could be a make-or-break year for him as the starter, though.

Young enters his fourth NFL season with a lot riding on the line. If he can prove himself worthy of a long-term extension, he could receive one in-season. This week’s game against the Bills gives us a first glimpse at the receiving corps, as well as the rotation between RB Chuba Hubbard and RB Jonathon Brooks.

Per Wolfe, the Panthers have had “a great start” at organized team activities (OTAs), which is somewhat confusing because the Panthers’ first OTA session is scheduled for May 26th. Young is apparently impressing someone on the field somehow, though. Regardless, Wolfe believes the Panthers’ offseason has made them “true contenders” capable of winning 10-12 games. They have won 13 over the past two years. If Young really is stepping up his game, that is good news for WR1 Tetairoa McMillan’s potential second-year leap. He posted a 70/1,014/7 receiving line en route to earning OROY honors last year. Young has a long way to go before we can view him as anything more than a fantasy QB2. Hopefully, the positive reports continue to roll in. If the Panthers really can win double-digit games, Young will ostensibly play a key role in the effort.

It’s not surprising given that Young hasn’t exactly delivered a full stretch of excellent play at any point in his first three years, despite showing real flashes in some games last year. The Panthers front office has largely talked about a Young extension as an idea or something to talk through rather than a certainty. They did pick up his fifth-year option earlier this offseason, so there’s no rush. It’s not surprising that the Panthers haven’t committed to Young yet — they surely hope a better supporting cast this year will help make the decision easier for them next offseason.

Bryce Young and the Panthers will total 8,740 air miles during the regular season, by far the lowest mark in the league. The 49ers are slated to lead the NFL with more than 38,000 air miles thanks to east coast trips and an international game. Though Carolina found their way into the postseason last year, they struggled through much of the season, finishing 24th in point differential, below the Falcons and Steelers, among other teams. The team continues to “talk through” a potential extension for Young, who over the past two seasons ranks 33rd out of 43 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per drop back.