Bryce Young struggles in Panthers preseason opener

Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young opened his preseason with a short and uneven outing against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, as the first-string offense failed to generate a first down across three possessions. Each drive ended in a three-and-out, keeping Young’s time on the field brief and limiting the unit’s ability to build rhythm.

Young played nine snaps and finished 3-for-5 passing for 18 yards. He was also sacked once during the series of stalled drives, a sequence that highlighted how quickly the offense’s planned workload can change when early execution falters.

Canales ends the starters’ night earlier than planned

Head coach Dave Canales said the original was Head coach Dave Canales said the original was to give the starters about “20-ish plays.” That plan changed as the offense repeatedly failed to extend drives, and Canales pulled the first-string unit after the third consecutive stop. Canales also indicated there was a “three series cap” in mind for Young’s debut, underscoring that the coaching staff was balancing two objectives: getting meaningful live repetitions while also controlling exposure and workload in the preseason setting. Offense set for film review after early stagnation The brief appearance put the focus on execution issues for a Panthers offense that is still working to establish timing and efficiency before the regular season. Officials said the team will conduct an internal review aimed at addressing the lack of rhythm seen in the opener.

Coaches and players are expected to lean heavily on film study to identify what went wrong on the limited snaps available. The review is intended to cover both mechanical and schematic problems that contributed to the three early three-and-outs and the decision to end the starters’ night before the intended number of plays.

Because the first-string offense did not sustain a drive, the preseason opener provided fewer live-game teaching reps than planned. That raises the practical importance of the next preseason fixture for Carolina’s offensive unit, as it looks to improve flow and execution in a controlled environment.

Young: “Not the start we wanted” Young said afterward that the result was disappointing, pointing directly to the unit’s inability to execute. “Obviously not the start we wanted. We weren't able to execute today. It sucks,” he said.

Young added that the group would review the film and take responsibility for improving performance, saying, “We all want to do a better job, myself included.” The Panthers have said the next step is correcting the issues identified on tape ahead of their next preseason game.