5 things to keep an eye on as the Panthers look for redemption against the Saints

On the first offensive snap of the 2024 season, Young threw an interception over the middle of the field. The Saints took advantage and began an attack that resulted in a 47-10 loss to the Panthers in Week 1.

Young's start Sunday will be just his fourth of the year, following a quarterback change that saw Andy Dalton take over in Weeks 3-7 before the veteran passer was sidelined with a sprained thumb. A mid-season chance to make up for the loss at the start of the season could provide a boost in the second half of the season. However, Young is trying not to put too much pressure on just one game and just focus on the week ahead.

“It’s a week-to-week league,” Young said Wednesday. “We have a lot of respect for them and know that it is different from week to week. So we take it, we learn from it, obviously watch the film from this game, watch the film from all the games, you know, let's say, a common plan.

“But you know, again, we're going in with respect, but we've got to do everything we can all week to earn the right to go out and play well. We know it will take everything, but we also have confidence.”

Part of helping Young take a step forward — and, by extension, the entire offense — is streamlining the pre-snap process. This is an area of ​​the game where Canales admits he also needs to improve.

“It comes down to deciding for myself what personnel I want out there; the coaches' communications relaying the call to Bryce. Bryce, handling the information, passing it on to our players who need to hear the full call,” Canales explained. “You know, it’s the whole process.”

Young is coming off a game against the Broncos in which he had great success against man coverage, completing 8-12 passes for 82 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. His completion rate of +18.5% above expectations against men was his highest rate in a game with multiple such attempts in his career.

Dalton was able to train as a full participant all week with the sprained thumb. While the coaches were hesitant to return him to the field as a starter so quickly after his car accident injury, he will serve as a backup on Sunday.