Panthers QB Bryce Young returns to practice, update on offensive lineman

Bryce Young is on the mend.

The Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback worked with his teammates during individual drills on Wednesday in front of the media.

Young, who sustained an ankle injury in the Week 7 win over the New York Jets, failed to practice all of last week before the team was blown out at home Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Veteran backup Andy Dalton filled in for Young against Buffalo and produced more turnovers (3) than scoring drives (2).

Young was listed as a full participant by the team following practice. That means that he also participated in team drills as well.

Coach Dave Canales said Young “looked good” in practice, but the team still plans to take the quarterback’s status as a day-to-day evaluation. Canales said they’ll make a decision later in the week.

“He took all the reps today in practice,” Canales said. “And again, we were just smart about what we were asking him to do today. Just in the different styles of play and all that. But he had a good day. We’ll keep pushing it a little bit more and see where we’re at.”

Chandler Zavala’s practice window activated

The Panthers activated the 21-day practice window for guard Chandler Zavala (knee) before Wednesday’s workout. While the 2023 fourth-round pick will remain on the injured reserve list, he will be allowed to practice at his own pace over the next three weeks.

The Panthers can activate Zavala to the 53-man roster at any point during the 21-day window. For now, though, he doesn’t count against the active roster.

“Couldn’t be a better time for Chandler to step in here and be back and available for us,” Canales said. “His window has just opened up. A lot of times, you don’t want to rush guys back out there. He looked great today. We need him. So it kind of times up well for us to have that help inside. And to have Austin Corbett in here, to be able to step in for Cade (Mays), it feels like we’ll be able to put our best group out there that we can to give us a chance to win.”

Zavala has been sidelined since the Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots. He was replaced at right guard by veteran Brady Christensen, who sustained a serious Achilles injury on Sunday against the Bills. In theory, Zavala — when healthy — could replace his replacement.

Zavala was listed as a full participant to begin the week.

“Feels great to be back,” Zavala said after practice. “Body feels good, and it feels really good to be back out there.”

The Panthers have had three starting right guards this season and all three have sustained noteworthy injuries. Along with Zavala’s injury and Christensen’s Achilles ailment, Pro Bowl lineman Robert Hunt sustained a torn biceps in the Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Zavala was Hunt’s immediate replacement.

The Panthers are likely to start their seventh different offensive line combination in nine games when they face off against Green Bay. The team is also monitoring injuries for center Cade Mays (ankle) and right tackle Taylor Moton (knee).

Mays and Moton were both missing from individual drills during the media portion of practice.

Corbett and Yosh Nijman replaced Mays and Moton at center and right tackle, respectively, during the second half of the loss to Buffalo.

Wednesday injury report

Did not participate: G Brady Christensen (Achilles), QB Andy Dalton (right thumb), C Cade Mays (ankle/knee), RT Taylor Moton (knee), DB Nick Scott (groin), OLB Princely Umanmielen (ankle), LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder)

Full participation: DT Derrick Brown (knee), WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (shoulder), LG Damien Lewis (oblique), QB Bryce Young (ankle), G Chandler Zavala (knee/IR)

Canales acknowledged that Dalton sustained his right thumb injury early in the loss to the Bills. The team did imaging on his thumb this week, which led to Dalton being held out of practice on Wednesday.

“It was in the first series of the game,” Canales said. “And I could tell he injured his thumb really early in the game. He was a stud. He gutted it out, and was able to be out there and allow us to finish the game that way. And it just really blew up on him after the game. And we got imaging on it, did our process on it over the last couple of days. We gotta see where he’s at going through this weekend. ... He knew it was important for the team, and he wanted to be out there for his guys to be able to give us the rhythm, the chance to do it, to win.”

Of the injured group, Canales said Mays and Umanmielen are nursing the most notable injuries, outside of Christensen. Moton might be able to play on Sunday after the Panthers received good imaging on his knee injury.

The head coach also noted that Christensen underwent season-ending surgery on his injured Achilles on Wednesday.

“I feel really bad for Brady,” Zavala said. “He’s put in a lot of work and stuff. I’m really close with Brady, so I’m here for him whenever he needs me.”

Quick hits

• Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen and Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell are no longer the NFL’s active co-leaders in games played (268). The Denver Broncos, according to multiple outlets, agreed to terms with tight end Marcedes Lewis on a one-year deal on Wednesday. Lewis, a 2006 first-round pick, has played 285 regular-season games in the NFL. Lewis has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears during his 19-year career. His stint with Denver will put him at 20 seasons in the NFL.
• Rookie pass rusher Nic Scourton has produced 14 pressures since Week 3. He has at least one pressure in each of his past six games. The second-round pick has also produced the first two sacks of his career over the past two games.
• New outside linebacker Trevis Gipson has been assigned No. 52. The number was previously worn by 2023 third-round pick DJ Johnson, who was waived in Week 5. Johnson worked out for the Chicago Bears on Tuesday but didn’t sign a contract.
• The Panthers’ 12th annual tree lighting ceremony — co-hosted by Charlotte FC — is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Bank of America Stadium.

This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM.