Panthers Rumors: David Tepper, Ownership 'Thrilled' with Bryce Young Since Benching

Bryce Young's performance since being inserted back in the starting lineup has everyone with the Carolina Panthers feeling very optimistic about their future.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, David Tepper and the rest of Carolina's ownership group are "thrilled" by Young's growth over the course of this season.

Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, looked like he was going to be one of the biggest busts in history. The 23-year-old was benched after Week 2 after throwing for 245 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in two games.

Frustration was mounting for everyone, with Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen showing his emotions on the field during a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Young only got back into the starting lineup in Week 8 because Andy Dalton was involved in an automobile accident that left him unable to play due to a thumb injury. He played well enough to keep the job after Dalton was healthy.

Since Week 10, Young has thrown for 878 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. The Panthers have lost their last three games, with two coming on the final play of the game.

Perhaps the best throw of Young's NFL career happened in the Panthers' 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He hit Xavier Legette for what would have been the game-tying touchdown before the extra point in the final minute, but the rookie receiver was unable to corral the ball before it hit the ground.

If Legette had caught the pass, it would have capped off a 97-yard drive against an Eagles defense that leads the NFL in points allowed per game.

While there's still a long way to go for Young to justify his draft position, the fact that he looks like a viable starting option right now based on where he was at two months ago is a huge win for the organization.

If the Panthers can continue to add more talent to improve their offense this offseason, Young could take another step forward in 2025.