Panthers HC Dave Canales reveals preseason plan for QB Bryce Young, starters

USA Today

4 days ago

The Carolina Panthers will seemingly give us a better preview of their first-string squads this preseason.
Head coach Dave Canales chatted with Kay Adams, host of Up & Adams, from the site of the team's training camp on Friday. Adams, when talking about the growing connection between quarterback Bryce Young and 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, asked Canales if we'll get to see the starters during upcoming exhibition play.
"Absolutely," he replied. "My plan is to play a series or two with the starters for the first two preseason games. So, I'm excited to get them out there. It goes beyond just the reps in the game. It's the night before, it's the morning of, it's what you eat, it's how you mentally prepare, it's going through your process of body readiness going into the game. Those are valuable reps—as much as going out there actually playing the game.
"So, I'm excited to kinda throw that at the guys—especially some of the younger players, the rookies and all that. But certainly our starters, just playing together and feeling what that feels like to prep from the night before all the way going up to it."
That was not the case last summer, when Canales opted to hold much of his starters out from the first two preseason outings. The first-year head coach was questioned for that decision, especially after the Panthers were thoroughly thrashed in their regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Canales did roll out the first-team offense in their 2024 preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. The brief outing saw Young complete six of his eight passes for 70 yards and a touchdown during an efficient 12-play scoring drive.
The Panthers will open up preseason play next Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET, when they host the Cleveland Browns from Bank of America Stadium.
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