Panthers' Canales lauds Young's preseason outing -- 'Hell of a day' - ESPN

It was just one drive against the second string of the Buffalo Bills, but it was enough to suggest second-year Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is headed in the right direction after an historically bad rookie season.

Young completed 6 of 8 pass attempts for 70 yards and a touchdown, an 8-yarder over the middle to converted tight end Jordan Matthews, in Saturday's 31-26 victory over the Bills at Highmark Stadium.

It was Young's first and only appearance in a preseason game, one that first-year head coach Dave Canales felt was strong enough to reportedly greet the top pick of the 2023 draft with «hell of a day'' as Young entered the locker room.

Canales later said the former Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama looked „sharp'' on the 12-play, 85-yard drive.

“Couldn't have dreamt it better,'' Canales said. „A fourth-down conversion in there, but saw him extend plays with his legs, keeping his eyes down the field, finding guys.''

The fourth-down play in particular showcased how Young has developed under Canales, who last season helped Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield have a career season and before that helped Geno Smith and Russell Wilson to career seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

It was fourth-and-3 from the Buffalo 46 when Young took the shotgun snap from rookie center Andrew Raym, forced into a starting role because Austin Corbett was back in Charlotte for the delivery of his son, Cooper John Corbett, 10 pounds, 4 ounces.

Young went through his first progressions, then saw pressure coming so the right-hander began fading to his left. He avoided one tackler and then lofted a cross-body throw to former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, his favorite target during training camp, for a