QB Bryce Young returns to practice for Panthers, on track to start Sunday vs. Vikings
Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young returned to practice Wednesday after having to sit out all last week due to an ankle injury.
Barring a setback, Young — who missed the Panthers’ previous game against Seattle — is expected to start Carolina’s 1 p.m. home game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Young was listed as a full participant in the Panthers’ post-practice team report and took all the reps that the No. 1 QB would normally take. Panthers coach Frank Reich after the workout was completed that Young had looked determined and energetic in practice and was now trending toward starting Sunday.
“Just have to make sure there’s no major setbacks, no flare-ups,” Reich said. “But if he stays on track, then I think things are headed in the right direction.”
Reich had said before practice he was happy with the way Young has dealt with his ankle rehabilitation.
“He obviously wants to be out there,” the coach said of the overall No. 1 draft pick. “And we want him out there, as long as he’s ready to go and play winning football.. ... Credit to Bryce for being ready. I mean really, at the beginning, we were thinking one to two weeks — thinking it could be more two (games that Young would miss). But he’s done everything he can do to get back here.”
Reich cautioned, however, that the doctors, coaches and Young would wait to see how the ankle responds to practicing all week before committing completely to who will start Sunday.
Everyone is in agreement that the QB1 job will be Young’s when he returns, though.
“This is Bryce’s thing,” backup quarterback Andy Dalton said last week.
Reich said Young wouldn’t have to be 100% to play, however.
“We’re going to get to the point here in the year where there’s probably few players that are 100% anymore,” Reich said. “So it doesn’t have to be 100%, but he just needs to be able to function and play winning football. And again, that will come down to asking him how he feels, watching him on the practice field, talking to the doctors and trainers and looking at how his ankle responds. You know, I’m not fretting over it. It’s gonna play itself out, and we’re confident however, it plays itself out.”
Young wasn’t made available to reporters Wednesday but is expected to have his weekly press conference Thursday. Young started the first two games for Carolina, but then missed the Week 3 game at Seattle because of an ankle injury.
Dalton started that game for Carolina and played well, throwing for 361 yards on a career-high 58 attempts in a 37-27 loss. He didn’t turn the ball over. Carolina (0-3) and Minnesota (0-3) face off at 1 p.m. as two of the final four winless teams in the NFL.
Thielen: No ‘grudges’ against Vikings
One of the big pregame storylines this week is wide receiver Adam Thielen playing against his old Minnesota team. Thielen played his first nine years with the Vikings and became a fan favorite there. However, Minnesota eventually released him in March, and he signed with the Panthers a few days later. Thielen, 33, has quickly become the Panthers’ top receiver, with 145 yards and a touchdown against Seattle. Now Thielen is game-planning against the same players he shared a locker room with for years.
“It’s already been a little bit weird, honestly,” Thielen said.
Does he feel the need for a little vengeance Sunday vs. the Vikings?
“It’s really hard to explain kind of the emotions of everything,” Thielen said. “Is there a little bit? Yeah, maybe. But I’m not the type of person to hold grudges. I just think that it just is what it is, right? And I’m I’m happy where I’m at. ... I can’t look at the past. I’m just focusing on the now. But yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of emotions, right? We’re emotional beings. ... But really, I’m trying to be just the same person every single day and focus on where I’m at.”
Luvu doesn’t practice; Henderson does
Reich said he’s not ready to put a timeline on safety Xavier Woods’ hamstring injury but it’s not a day-to-day injury. Linebacker Frankie Luvu didn’t practice Wednesday but is making progress with hip injury. Cornerback CJ Henderson (ankle) did practice, while rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (concussion) didn’t.
Along with absences for Woods, Luvu and Mingo, right tackle Taylor Moton on the field without a helmet. He had previously been dealing with a biceps injury in Week 2 but played in the past two games. Moton was given a rest day but also has an ankle issue. Left guard Chandler Zavala (calf) and running back Miles Sanders (groin) were limited.
Looking ahead with injuries
The Panthers could see some reinforcements on the 53-man roster as early as next week. Pass rusher Marquis Haynes (back) and tight end Stephen Sullivan (hip) are eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 5. Right guard Austin Corbett (ACL) is also eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list on Monday.
Haynes and Corbett are particularly important for the lineup. Haynes could help with the pass rush rotation behind Brian Burns and Justin Houston. Corbett returning to right guard would solidify a position that has been a turnstile throughout the first month of the season.
It should be noted that while those three players would be eligible to return, their presence in the lineup would be based on their individual recovery timelines.
This story was originally published September 27, 2023 at 12:12 PM.
