The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Mater Dei’s Young declared starting QB for the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have their QB1.
Coach Frank Reich wasted no time naming rookie Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, the team’s starting quarterback for the Sept. 10 opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
“When we decided to pick Bryce we imagined and saw the vision that we would be standing here today saying he is the QB1,” Reich said Wednesday.
The announcement came after the completion of the Young’s first training camp practice at Wofford College, although the decision seemed imminent after he took over first-team reps from veteran Andy Dalton during organized team activities in June.
Young, a two-year starter at Alabama and the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner after starring at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, will become the first rookie to start a season opener for the Panthers since Cam Newton in 2011.
Reich vowed to be patient as Young develops as a rookie.
“We want to keep our expectations on the process and not try to make too much of any one play or any one game,” Reich said. “I think that is wisdom, that is good coaching and that is good playing. When we have a bad play, nobody is going to panic. And Bryce knows he is going to feel that from our staff. That has already been said: ‘Hey, you’re the guy, let’s go.’ ”
Young called it “a huge blessing ” to be named the starter so early in camp.
“That means a lot, but for me it doesn’t change my approach,” Young said. “I want to make sure I take things day by day. There are a lot of things that I want to keep growing in, keep improving in. We are all as a team in this together.”
• Aaron Rodgers took a pay cut and signed a new two-year, $75 million guaranteed contract with the New York Jets on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The four-time NFL MVP had nearly $110 million in guaranteed money remaining on his previous deal
signed with Green Bay. But Rodgers is taking less money with New York — and reiterating his stay with the Jets is likely to last beyond just this season.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the contract. NFL Network first reported the sides had agreed to a new deal after Rodgers confirmed earlier in the day he had agreed to a reworked contract.
• The Chicago Bears and tight end Cole Kmet agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension through 2027, a reward for a homegrown player coming off his best season. Kmet had 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
“We condemn domestic violence of any kind,” the team said. “Our thoughts are with the parties involved in this situation.”
Williams faces five felony charges including multiple counts of domestic battery by strangulation, coercion with the threat or use of physical force and assault with use of a weapon, according to court records.