Bryce Young and Andy Dalton, the top two quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers, addressed reporters on Thursday about their health and readiness to play. Young missed last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills due to an ankle injury but expressed eagerness to return.
“It’s been great being able to be back out there,” Young said. “I definitely missed it, so it’s been great. Yeah, yeah, feel good. I’m going to default to the doctors, but I’m a competitor. I want to go out there and be with my brothers, so I’m doing everything I can.
“I just want to go out there and compete, and then you know, at the end of the day, the doctors will decide. I felt good today. I continue to feel better and better. So again, listening to the doctors. I’m going to do whatever it takes to play.”
Young’s competitive approach was evident in practice this week as he worked through his recovery process while remaining involved during last Sunday’s game when Dalton started in his place.
“He’s looked great; he was spinning the ball,” offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said Thursday prior to practice about Young’s initial work of the week. “He was eager to get full-speed tempo routes with all those guys. We had to remind him, Hey, this is a Wednesday. We’re trying to get some of our guys’ legs back, but you just love the competitive nature that he has. He’s like, once he sees the game plan, he starts writing down, I need this concept versus this coverage. I want to get TMac (Tetairoa McMillan) on this route versus this kind of defensive look. I want to get this footwork to make sure that I’m prepared and I’ve gone through all those physical reps to have myself ready for game day.
“I’m really excited just in his approach. He didn’t lose that last week. He was going through those mental processes, and then for him to get back out on the field, he’s chomping at the bit, really excited to watch him today and full speed…”
During last week’s game—the first he’s missed due to injury since his rookie season—Young stayed engaged by supporting teammates from the sideline.
“You just change your perspective…I want to be there for Andy, for the team…So I think that’s a change of perspective,” Young said.
Young also tried calming rookie linebacker Princely Umanmielen after a frustrating moment late in Sunday’s loss.
“Obviously…you just want everything from a team standpoint focused in the right way,” Young said about Umanmielen’s reaction on the sideline following a difficult play.
Meanwhile Dalton described playing through what he called a broken thumb sustained early against Buffalo after hitting his hand on an opposing player’s arm during a pass attempt.
“You know I’m not going to use that as an excuse for anything,” Dalton said regarding turnovers during Sunday’s game attributed by some observers possibly in part due to his injury status.”I’d love for my thumb not be broken…but you know it is what it is…”
Asked if he’d miss time because of his thumb: “No.”
“I mean it’s not ideal but you know I can still work,” Dalton added.”I can still throw ball so yeah we just go from there…”
Dalton did not inform medical staff about his thumb during Sunday’s contest but discussed it briefly with Young on sidelines who praised Dalton’s determination:
“Obviously…he wasn’t looking come out or anything—that speaks character warrior he is…” Young commented.”Him pushing through that—not complaining—that speaks player person he is.”
The Panthers added quarterback Mike White from their practice squad as insurance earlier Thursday ahead of their next matchup.
