Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young returns vs. Falcons after ankle injury
Bryce Young has returned to the game after heading to the locker room because of an ankle injury.
The Carolina Panthers’ third-year quarterback spent a few minutes on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf in the first quarter after a third-down sack — which came courtesy of a blitz and hard hit from Falcons cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. — before receiving medical attention on the field from Panthers training staff. He then was helped up and walked off the field on his own power.
The team told reporters that Young sustained an ankle injury a few minutes into his time in the locker room. Young was initially considered questionable to return, but he returned to the game with 7:52 remaining in the first half.
A replay review of the sack showed Bowman inadvertently stepping on Young’s right ankle when he initiated the contact. Young returned with a massive amount of wrap over his ankle.
This is not the first injury to Young’s right ankle of the season. In Week 7 against the Jets, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound quarterback also hurt the same ankle — and missed the rest of the game, as well as the entirety of the next game, because of it.
Young was off to a great start at the time of his injury Sunday. He exited the contest 8 of 9 for 82 yards and one touchdown for a passer rating of 141. 7. The bulk of that came on the first drive — which culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan.
He exited the game with the score at 7-7; he returned with the Falcons leading, 14-7.
The Panthers weren’t the only ones impacted by a quarterback injury. Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr., after a QB hit late in the third quarter, exited the game with a reported knee ailment. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins played in his stead.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
