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Baker Mayfield's encouraging words to Bryce Young following Panthers QB's benching READ MORE: Carolina Panthers fan's message to struggling QB Bryce Young READ MORE: What the Carolina Panthers gave up in 2023 Draft to select Young By Jake Nisse Published: 23:55 BST, 18 September 2024 | Updated: 00:03 BST, 19 September 2024 e-mail View comments Baker Mayfield certainly understands what it feels like to be written off, and the Bucs passer offered some words of encouragement for benched Panthers rookie Bryce Young on Wednesday. Mayfield is now starring in Tampa Bay and known as one of the league's most accurate passers, but it took a winding journey to get to this point as he was traded by the Browns and Panthers before finding himself as a free agent after a brief stint with the Rams. Now settled as the Bucs' starter, he told Young - a fellow former No.
1 overall pick - that his story in pro football 'is far from finished' following his Panthers benching. 'Quarterback's hard, especially for young guys when you're not surrounded with the pieces, and not given the opportunity to have success,' Mayfield began in a press conference (in which Young was not present). 'So a lot of the time, guys have talent, they might have the brains, but they didn't have the right opportunity, the right fit.
'I'm sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other places I've been. And that's not to put other teams down, but it's a matter of the pieces around you, the coaches - and for Bryce..
. I can relate to this, finding that belief within yourself again - and he'll get it. His story is far, far from finished.
' Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is going through a tough period as he was just benched But Buccaneers quarterback offered some words of encouragement for the second-year pro Baker Mayfield was asked about Bryce Young's benching in Carolina, and he explained how tough playing quarterback is, especially when the supporting cast isn’t great. "His story is far, far from finished." Baker played in Carolina, is a former No.
1 pick and eventually bounced...
pic.twitter.com/4iLBfHNPmP — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 18, 2024 Read More Panthers fan's four-word message to Bryce Young as he's seen for first time since being benched Mayfield is far from the only person who's offered some supportive words for Young.
As the 23-year-old made his way out to practice on Wednesday, a supportive Panthers fan called him over to ask to sign a football. As Young wrote his autograph down, the supportive fan simply told him: 'Keep your head up'. NBA superstar Lebron James also offered some kind words on X, telling Young to 'hold ya head' amid his struggles.
Young, the first overall pick out of Alabama in 2023, has struggled mightily in the pros, as he's tossed 11 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in 18 games and has averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt. Canales refused to acknowledge whether the Panthers would consider trading Young Still, as Mayfield touched on, Young hasn't exactly been in the best circumstances as Carolina went 2-14 last year, leading to a new head coach in Dave Canales and another offense to learn.
Canales made the decision to bench Young and promote veteran passer Andy Dalton after the team's 26-3 loss to the Chargers, in which Young passed for just 84 yards and threw an interception. However, whether it's with the Panthers or another organization, Young will surely get another chance to impress; it's only been about two years since Mayfield was benched by the Panthers and ultimately traded to LA after just six starts in Carolina. For now, Young will have the opportunity to sit and learn behind the experienced Dalton.
The Panthers will hope to get their first win of the season at the Raiders on Sunday. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carolina Panthers Share or comment on this article: Baker Mayfield's encouraging words to Bryce Young following Panthers QB's benching e-mail Add comment.
