Panthers 'want to get more reps' for Bryce Young, offensive starters in final preseason game

When the NFL had four preseason games, the third one was considered the “dress rehearsal” for the starters as teams would play their starters. But since the league went three preseason matchups, the “dress rehearsal” moved to the second week of preseason, meaning that’s when fans see the starters more.

But for the Carolina Panthers — led by No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who beat out Andy Dalton in the quarterback competition — the starters are going to see plenty of action in the final preseason tilt.

Panthers coach Frank Reich confirmed the plan is to give Young and the rest of the first-team offense more chances to clean things up ahead of the season opener Sept. 10. It’s unclear just how many snaps they’ll play, but Reich still wants to see more out of his group.

“Sometimes a lot of teams won’t play their starters in the last preseason game,” Reich said, via Panthers.com’s Augusta Stone. “We’re going to play Bryce and play our offensive starters. (We) still want to get more reps; I think we had about 20 last week or something like that.

“It’s kind of TBD again. It could be about the same, could be a little less, could be a little bit more. (We would) like to get a little rhythm going, accomplish certain things. So we’ll play it by ear.”

Bryce Young on the Panthers’ preseason plan: ‘This is by design’

Young has played in both preseason games so far for the Panthers, totaling 56 yards on 7-of-12 passing. He still hasn’t thrown a touchdown, though, but he’ll have one more chance to find the end zone before the regular season kicks off against the Atlanta Falcons.

Young understood the game plan entering the preseason, though, and the preseason experience as a whole is new to him. High school and college teams don’t allow preseason games. Reich and the staff have eased him in to the NFL game, and Young trusted the coaches to put him in position to succeed.

“This is by design,” Young said, via Panthers.com. “I trust the coaches wholeheartedly in their approach, what they’re doing, the play-calling, everything. For me, I’ve never played in a preseason game. Like there’s scrimmages in high school, I guess, but I’ve never played a game (where) the starters are playing as much as they can. Obviously, that’s part of the league. It’s just something that’s new for me to adjust to.

“But our coaching staff, they’ve been here for years. They’ve had a ton of success. I have all the respect in the world for them. They don’t wake up the day before the game and just try to figure it out. They have a reason. They have a plan. Whatever that is, I don’t question it. I just go in and try to execute.”