Bryce Young Scores First Rushing Touchdown in Loss to Cardinals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young scored his first rushing touchdown of the season Sunday as the Carolina Panthers faced off against the Arizona Cardinals. Young, the Panthers quarterback, ran for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter, giving Carolina a 7-0 lead.

The touchdown capped a nine-play, 61-yard opening drive. Young completed 5-of-7 passes for 51 yards, including a 23-yard completion to Tetairoa McMillan.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons were unable to capitalize on their opening drive. Kicker Parker Romo missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. The Falcons recently moved on from their long-time kicker, Younghoe Koo, adding pressure on their special teams.

The game kicked off at 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium, attended by fans hopeful for a breakout performance from the home team. The Panthers entered the game with an 0-2 record, looking to turn their season around while the Falcons aimed for a 2-1 start after a win over the Minnesota Vikings last week. Key to the Falcons’ strategy was their defense, which had proven effective in previous games.

As the match unfolded, Young struggled with turnovers, which have plagued his early career. He finished with a career-high 328 yards passing but failed to connect on any of his final seven attempts. He had a difficult outing the week prior, with three turnovers in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Arizona controlled much of the game, taking an early 10-0 lead after capitalizing on two first-drive turnovers from the Panthers. A strip-sack by Josh Sweat early in the game set the tone and led to a defensive touchdown. The Cardinals extended their lead to 27-3 before the Panthers attempted a fourth-quarter comeback.

Young’s notable improvements came in the second half, where he threw three touchdown passes, including a 1-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow, narrowing the Cardinals’ lead to 27-22 with just under two minutes remaining. However, an onside kick recovery gave Carolina one last chance, but Young was sacked by the veteran Calais Campbell on fourth down, ending their hopes for a comeback.

The Panthers will look to bounce back next week against the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Cardinals head to face the San Francisco 49ers following their win.