Bryce Young ready to start after working as Panthers' scout QB

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --Bryce Youngtook the snap like he would at any practice, but then he headed for the edge on a designed quarterback sweep, something he wouldn't normally do. With a blocker ahead, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft, now running theCarolina Panthers' scout team, kicked into high gear and raced 20 yards for a first down.

"I asked him how fast he was going,'' tight endJordan Matthewssaid. "He was like, '18 or 19 [mph].' I'm like, 'I bet you hit 20!' He was rolling.''

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was so impressed he called it "that run.''

This was Young imitatingWashington Commandersrookie quarterbackJayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick of the 2024 draft, before they faced him inSunday's 40-7loss. Two weeks earlier, before facing theChicago Bears, he mimickedrookieCaleb Williams, the No. 1 pick of this year's draft.

This week, Young was set to play the role ofBo Nix, the 2024 No. 12 pick,for Sunday's game at theDenver Broncos(4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) until Carolina starter Andy Dalton suffered a sprained thumb on his throwing hand in a Tuesday car accident that propelled Young back into the starting lineup.

Clowney, among others, believes Young is ready after watching his growth on the scout team.

"He was saucing us up out there,'' Clowney said. "He was throwing dimes at practice.''

Clowney, the top pick of the 2014 draft, talked to Young about the difficulties of being the No. 1 pick even before he knew Young would get this second opportunity.

"To believe in himself,'' he said. "You know what got you here. You know how to play football. You were the No. 1 pick for a reason. Just continue to believe in yourself and keep the haters away.''

Ever since Young was benched after an 0-2 start, his role has been to provide the first-team defense with the best look possible at the opposing quarterback.

It's a job Young took seriously, although imitating Daniels was somewhat of a challenge because of his unique physical skills.

"I'm not as fast as him, so I was trying,'' Young quipped.

Young doesn't remember the run that stood out so much to Matthews and Clowney that they suggested it should be a part of Carolina's offense. He smiled and said in a light-hearted way that he has about "five of those" every practice.

Young may have lost his starting job, but he didn't lose the competitive nature and confidence that helped him win the 2021 Heisman Trophy at Alabama. He didn't lose the ability to make plays, even if was mostly on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"Him being down didn't take any confidence away from him,'' cornerbackDane Jacksonsaid. "On that play I wasn't like, 'Oh, wow, that was super wild,' because I know that he can do that.

"He did exactly what he's been doing his whole career.''

Young did exactly what NFL Hall of Fame quarterbackSteve Young, who was 3-16 two years into his pro career with theTampa Bay Buccaneers, said he should do.

"If you want the starting job, you have to be the greatest backup quarterback in history,''he recently told ESPN.com.

That includes running the scout team.

"Honestly, he's just been slinging the ball and being a cannon,'' said practice squad wide receiverPraise Olatoke. "He's playing his game and he's excelling.''

Young didn't excel as a starter. In 18 games, he ranked at or near the bottom of the league in most major categories. He had no touchdowns and three interceptions with a league-worst 12.6 Total QBR this season before being replaced.

His time running the scout team was supposed to hone his skills. Coach Dave Canales hasn't offered details on exactly what Young improved, but he said on Wednesday Young has been an "absolute stud'' throughout the process. His teammates saw growth.

"What I like is he hasn't complained about it like most guys,'' cornerbackMichael Jacksonsaid. "Most guys will make it about them. ... I've seen guys go in the tank. They don't know how to function because they lost their job in front of everybody.

"This only shows, really, what kind of man he is. Forget football. He's a real solid dude.''

Matthews said Young's disposition is tailormade for the adversity he's faced, even though his career has been paved with success.

"He's always been cool and confident and calm,'' he said. "You never know if he's rattled. So when he had to go through this situation ... it kind of helped that he already was that way.''

Matthews loved having Young's competitiveness on the scout team. Sometimes he would tell Young to forget the coach's instructions on what play to run and attack what he sees as open.

"So we're actually playing real football,'' Matthews said. "I love having him there because he wants to compete, but he also wants to have a feel for the game. It's not just going out there and doing whatever.''

There are throws he seldom attempted in games that he throws in practice, including a bomb to practice squad memberDeven Thompkins, a third-year wide receiver out of Utah State, last week.

"It's just processing and accuracy, just confidence to sling it,'' Olatoke said. "That's where I see him improving. He just slung a 40- or 50-yard bomb with no hesitation.''

The scout team quarterback spends some time with the defensive staff to get input on the look they want, but Young already was doing that in training camp to help him better understand defenses.

"Trying to do everything I can to help the team,'' Young said.

His impact imitating opposing QBs may not have shown up on the scoreboard -- the defense, decimated by injuries, is on pace to give up the second most points per game (34.7) during the Super Bowl era -- but it's not been for a lack of effort by Young.

"He's done everything the right way,'' Jackson said.

Many of Young's teammates believe he's every bit as good as the 2024 rookies he's been imitating.

"He's just [taken] it for what it is,'' Jackson said. "Enjoy this moment, even though it's kind of not what you want, there's some beauty in there somewhere.''

That Young seemed to have fun running the scout team didn't go unnoticed.

"Just his joy, his leadership,'' Olatoke said. "He might even make a joke here and there in the huddle.''

Jackson compared it to the two years he spent on the scout team.

"You gotta have fun,'' he said. "At the end of the day, it's still football. You can get thrown in the game at any moment. If you're not prepared and taking it seriously, you're going to get out there and not know what you're doing.''

So Young's attitude towards running the scout team could pay off.

"For me, I never was out of it,'' Young said. "That's out of respect for the game, respect for this team. There was never a take a step back or phone it in for a week. I put too much effort into the game to do that.''