Young QBs center stage as Falcons host Panthers
ATLANTA — The Carolina Panthers are kicking off a new era with Bryce Young as the face of the franchise. It’s just the sort of hype one would expect for the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick. There’s far less hoopla surrounding the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, though they have equally high hopes for Desmond Ridder as he takes charge of their offense.
Ridder and Young will be the center of attention Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Falcons will host the Panthers in a season-opening NFC South Division matchup.
Atlanta and Carolina have followed similar paths by struggling in recent years — neither has had a winning record since 2017, which was also the most recent season either made the playoffs — and now both franchises are counting on young quarterbacks to lead them to a brighter future.
With Frank Reich taking over as coach of the Panthers, they pinned their rebuilding hopes on Young, who won the 2021 Heisman Trophy during a brilliant career at Alabama. Officially named the starter by Reich on July 26 — the day after Young’s 22nd birthday — the former Crimson Tide standout isn’t thinking beyond his first game as a pro.
“I’m a not a huge long-term guy,” Young said. “It’s never just straight up. There’s going to be ups and downs.”
Ridder, who turned 24 on Aug. 31, was far from a top pick. Even after a stellar college career at Cincinnati, he slipped all the way to the third round in the 2022 draft. He then spent most of his rookie campaign as a backup to journeyman Marcus Mariota before taking over for the final four games of the year. The Falcons went 2-2 in that stretch, with Ridder showing enough promise to lock down the No. 1 job for 2023.
“I’ve prepared for this moment and where I need to be,” he said.
Young has gotten much of the attention in Carolina, but he’s hardly the only personnel change on offense. The Panthers have overhauled the skill positions, bringing in running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst and wide receivers D.J. Chark, Jonathan Mingo and Adam Thielen.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has two of the NFL’s most intriguing weapons in the backfield, though veteran Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie Bijan Robinson are sure to be lining up all over the field.
Defying conventional wisdom that first-round selections should not be used on running backs, the Falcons grabbed Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick. Arthur Smith, the former Tennessee Titans coordinator entering his third season as Atlanta’s head coach, believes Robinson is the sort of player who can redefine the position, not only taking handoffs but working out of the slot or moving outside as a wide receiver.
“There are great expectations,” Smith said. “When you make those investments, you have to make sure it’s the right person, you’ve got the right plan. So far, so good.”
The 32-year-old Patterson, who provides many of the same skills as Robinson, was slowed by injuries last season, but two years ago he rushed for 618 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 52 receptions for 548 yards and five scores.