Aaron Rodgers sees bright future for Panthers, rookie QB Bryce Young

It has been a rough start to the season for the Carolina Panthers and rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Carolina is the only winless team in the NFL at 0-6 after six weeks, and Young has is averaging less than 200 passing yards per game so far.

Still, Jets QB Aaron Rodgers believes Carolina and its rookie quarterback have a bright future. He added that people who are already giving up on Bryce Young and Panthers coach Frank Reich are making a mistake.

“What did you expect? Like there was going to be some growing pains, for sure,” Rodgers said Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show. “But I think they have a quarterback of the future. They definitely have a pass rusher of the future. But they’re a young team. They’re a really young team. There’s going to be some growing pains for all those guys.”

One rookie quarterback who has been able to avoid growing pains so far is Texans QB CJ Stroud.

The former Ohio State star has Houston at 3-3 through six games, and Stroud is averaging 277 passing yards per game. He has nine touchdowns, with only one interception on the season.

The way that Stroud is playing has some people questioning why Bryce Young isn’t playing better. However, Rodgers feels that it’s way too early to be concerned about Young’s future.

“I mean, maybe not Stroud,” Rodgers said about rookie QBs having growing pains. “He’s had some pretty smooth sailing so far. But there’s always going to be growing pains in your first year.”

Finally, Rodgers added that he likes the coaching staff Carolina has put together. If the Panthers are patient with their rookie quarterback and first-year head coach, he believes it will pay off down the line.

“This is a real knee-jerk reaction league and media and fanbase, though. I hope that that staff sticks around, because I think it’s a really well put together staff on both sides of the ball, and I hope they just have some patience, because I think they’ve got some pieces,” Rodgers said. “But they obviously need a few more pieces in order to compete and be relevant.”

The Panthers are coming off of a 42-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Carolina has a bye this week, before resuming play against CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans on Oct. 29. You can bet there will be plenty of eyes on that game as the two rookie QBs face off.