North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — The question came nearly as quickly as Panthers head coach Dave Canales' response. Asked after a 26-3 loss to the Chargers Sunday if he considered replacing starting quarterback Bryce Young with Andy Dalton, Canales didn't flinch.

"Bryce is our quarterback," Canales said simply.

There was similar support in the locker room for the second-year quarterback after a second straight game of diminishing offensive returns. The Panthers managed just 159 total yards and were 1-of-12 on third-down conversions. Young was 18-of-26 for 84 yards and an interception, an extension of last week's two-pick day in New Orleans.

There was evidence of a run game this week (Chuba Hubbard averaged 6.4 per carry, and they finished with 18 carries for 90 yards as a team), as the margin was close enough that they could continue to run, unlike when last week's quick deficit made them one-dimensional.

"I'd love to see this thing just continue to take the next steps offensively," Canales said. "Right now, Bryce is our quarterback, and we're going to just continue to shore up and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme standpoint, all those things. These are all valuable reps, and these are all valuable games."

"We'll learn a lot from this game, and hopefully, we'll take another step this week."

As they prepared to take that step, there was widespread support for Young in the locker room.

"I have the most confidence in Bryce," Hubbard said. "That never varies or wavers for me."

Veteran wideout Adam Thielen rejected the premise of a question about Young's future.

"I love that kid. He works his butt off. It's too early in the season to be talking about that," Thielen said. "We need to be better around him to get your confidence and trust in what we're doing. And that's why football is the greatest team sport there is because you can never put it on one guy in this game. Obviously, as a quarterback in this league—and I was around it with Kirk (Cousins) in Minnesota—they get all the praise when it's good, and they're getting killed every single time they lose a game."

"And so you just learn that that's how it works, but that's not the truth and reality of what this is."

For his part, Young acknowledged the struggles and said he was "grateful for this challenge." When asked about the boos he heard as he went in at halftime, he said, "Obviously that's part of it. I respect the passion of the city."

And he also owned his own part of it.

"I've got all the faith in the world in coach and the stuff we're putting in, stuff we're calling," Young said. "It just starts with me; I have to do a better job of executing. And then all of us as players have to do a better job of executing, and we all take accountability for that."

Young attempted 10 passes for 22 yards in the first half; on his interception across the middle, he said he got "a little too greedy there." For the game, his 3.2 yards per attempt number indicated how drawn-in naturedly rest of play unfolded. Canales pointed to their unsustainable third-down conversion rate (8 percent), yet remained supportive of his quarterback.

"I'm super-grateful for coach Canales," Young said. "I have full trust in him as a coach, as a play caller and in the system that he's brought. And we just have to do a better job of executing and helping him out."

"This is obviously tough times," Young continued," but I think it's a great opportunity for us—in our relationship—and entire team—to grow during tough times."

They have already faced sufficient adversity this season; however Canales and Young's teammates took long view on situation—believing second-year quarterback's measured approach should help push through challenges ahead.

"I think it's process," Thielen said."It's how prepares—how handles—that leadership ability through really tough times—obviously last year start this year.”

"This isn't anybody angry at an individual,” Thielen added.”This anger ourselves offense—we had high hopes—for team—a lot high hopes—that’s what it is—not anger ever one individual person—a collective thing—we’ve got find way help him out.”