In a dramatic encounter, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young showed immense courage by leading his team to victory over the Atlanta Falcons, despite suffering a right ankle injury. The situation became concerning when Young writhed in pain in the first quarter of the game, clutching the ankle that had already prevented him from playing on a previous occasion this season. Coach Dave Canales and his teammates remained expectant on the field, waiting to find out if Young could return to the game, especially after the physiotherapists took him directly to the locker room. However, Young returned to the field, and he did so with a performance that marked a milestone in his career. Despite having his ankle heavily bandaged, the young quarterback, selected in the first position of the 2023 draft, threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new franchise record. His performance propelled the Panthers to position themselves for the winning field goal in overtime, thanks to a short pass that tight end Tommy Tremble converted into a 54-yard gain. With his outstanding performance, Young almost single-handedly helped Carolina improve their record to 6-5 and get within half a game of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaders of the NFC South (6-4). Pain is an accurate way to sum it up. You just breathe through the pain. After the match, Young didn’t hide the pain he felt, but his teammates were amazed by his return.
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who had eight receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns, commented on Young’s resilience: “I saw him come back to the game. I asked him ‘Are you okay?’ And he replied ‘Yes!’ I told him ‘Well, next time get up'”.
McMillan added: “He always has a cool head. The moment is never too big. He’s made for moments like this.” After a loss to the New Orleans Saints, doubts arose about whether Young could handle a moment of this magnitude. Although he didn’t make spectacular long throws, his 36-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Legette on the first play of the second half marked the beginning of the comeback and ended a streak of missed passes of more than 30 yards. At the end, Young surpassed Cam Newton’s single-game passing record, who achieved 432 yards in 2011. Young expressed his honor and respect for Newton, but emphasized that the most important thing was the team’s victory. This victory keeps the Panthers in the fight for a winning season and a playoff spot for the first time since 2017. The schedule becomes more demanding, with upcoming matchups against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. However, they also have two remaining games against the Buccaneers, which keeps hope alive.
