Dave Canales knows there is no use in disparaging Bryce Young to the press.
But after a series of shaky practices, where Young threw multiple interceptions, Canales is defending his starting quarterback as the New York Jets come to town for a joint practice.
“If we’re not throwing interceptions, we’re not trying stuff, we’re not trying to make those tight throws. And we know NFL football is tightly played,” Canales said to the media after practice. “I don’t look too far into it, other than just what happened on this play so we can correct it.”
Young's interception on Wednesday was to cornerback Troy Hill. The pass was intended for trusty veteran Adam Thielen. Hill jumped the route and the result was a pick-six. Brutal.
“Offensively, it looked like a great day. We get into the last period of it, we throw an interception early in that part, and it makes everything feel horrible,” Canales said. “But it’s like, nothing’s wasted. It’s a great day of work, but it just goes to show how critical the ball is and why we have to continue to heighten our awareness and our execution.”
Canales is in an intersting position. As much as the Panthers can claim winning is a priority heading into the 2024 season, the main objective for the team is figuring out if Young is truly the franchise quarterback. That is why Canales doesn't see a true reason to chastise the second-year starter after a few shaky practices.
He is taking a page out of veteran tight end Jordan Matthews' book in supporting Young any way he knows how.
"I’ve seen enough good stuff from Bryce to let me know that what he needs is we got to cover him," Matthews said, via the Panthers' official website. "From the receivers to the o-line, to the running backs, protection, pass game, in the media, we’ve got to cover that young man. He’s got a lot on his shoulders, but golly, he’s a winner. You don’t just wake up one day and win a Heisman. I talk about it all the time, you see somebody at the top of a mountain, but they didn’t get dropped off there. They climbed it.”
It isn't a secret, Young can't throw nearly as many interceptions. He threw one to safety Xavier Woods on Sunday. He also had an interception to defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. But in a year that will be defined by whether the former No. 1 overall pick lives up to his pre-draft hype, he needs all the support he can get.
