Bryce Young wowed fans with a highlight-reel play on Sunday as the Panthers quarterback continued his resurgence following his benching earlier this season.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick lost his starting job to veteran Andy Dalton from Weeks 3 to 7, but has looked more composed since in the last six games.
And against the Eagles, Young showed the latest sign that he was rounding a corner as he epically escaped a sack to keep Carolina alive late in the game.
With the Panthers trailing 22-16 and facing a 3rd-and-11 deep inside their own territory, Young took the snap from inside the end zone, juked out Jalen Carter and shook off Josh Sweat as the linebacker tried to wrap up his leg.
The Alabama product then delivered an inch-perfect pass to Xavier Legette to keep his team’s drive going with roughly two-and-a-half minutes remaining.
While the drive ultimately stalled out at the Eagles’ 37-yard-line – leading to a Panthers loss – Young was lauded online for his game-extending play.
Bryce Young wowed fans with an incredible play in the fourth quarter vs. the Eagles
He escaped pressure from Philadelphia in his own end zone before delivering a perfect pass
‘WHO DOESNT LOVE A BRYCE YOUNG COMEBACK,’ one fan wrote.
‘Houdini back there! That’s Alabama Bryce,’ another added.
And a third said, ‘So glad Bryce is starting to find his groove.’
Young has certainly shown improvement in the six starts since he returned from his benching, as he’s averaging 212.1 passing yards per game, up from 173.4 yards per contest in his 18 starts before.
Young has also tossed seven touchdowns in his last six games, as compared with just 11 in the 18 prior.
And perhaps most notably, Young is getting rid of the ball quicker, as he’s taken just 8 sacks in the last six games.
That number was a whopping 68 across his first 18 starts – nearly four per game – as he struggled with his decision-making throughout his rookie season.
The Panthers dropped to 3-10 following their narrow loss to the 11-2 Eagles, though they’ll be encouraged by Young’s continued growth.
Matchups against the Cowboys, Cardinals, Buccaneers and Falcons remain for him to show he is the team’s quarterback of the future.
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