Bryce Young throws first NFL touchdown in preseason game vs. Detroit Lions
The Carolina Panthers gave up a ton of draft capital in order to secure the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Once Chicago decided to move back, the process was simple for general manager Scott Fitterer. He was going to roll with Bryce Young, hoping the Alabama quarterback would be the face of the franchise for years to come.
Young has been present with the team ever since rookie minicamps. He made his preseason debut against the New York Jets two weeks ago, but didn’t manage to get into the end zone. That didn’t change in his second preseason game against the New York Giants.
It did Friday night against the Detroit Lions.
Facing third-and-4 from his own 16-yard line, Young found one of his emerging favorite targets, Adam Thielen on a corner route for a touchdown.
You can check out the entire play here.
The price to have the opportunity to draft Young was not cheap. Carolina gave away the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft plus their 2024 first-round pick. A 2023 and 2025 second-round pick also went in the direction of Chicago, giving them four selections over three drafts.
Wide receiver DJ Moore was included as well, giving the Bears a weapon at wide receiver they have desperately needed.
Young’s preseason action is his first in game-like settings since New Year’s Eve when Alabama was facing Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. On that day, he threw five touchdowns on just 21 passing attempts, earning a huge win for the Crimson Tide.
May as well keep the train rolling when making the move up to the NFL. Yes, it’s a preseason game but Young is a rookie getting only his second taste of professional football. A huge step forward was taken by getting a touchdown on Friday night.
Bryce Young to deal with pressure early in career
Even early in his career, there will be a ton of pressure facing Young. Head coach Frank Reich says it’s something Bryce Young has dealt with before. He expects big things out of the quarterback in 2023 and the preseason touchdown is just the beginning.
“The way he should, right?” Reich said in late July. “That’s all of our expectations. When you’re the No. 1 pick of the draft, which, of course you would expect him to handle it like a pro.
“This isn’t his first rodeo. He’s been under pressure his whole life, had those high expectations on him his whole life. He knows and we know that we do want to win big but we also know we have to prove that day-by-day.”