Bryce Young's brief appearance in the preseason debut raised more doubts about the Carolina Panthers' offensive line than it provided insights into his potential.

The top overall draft pick participated in 11 plays spanning three drives during the team's 27-0 loss against the New York Jets on Saturday. Young completed 4 of 6 passes for a total of 21 yards, faced one sack, and encountered pressure on a couple of other occasions.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich acknowledged the excessive pressure faced by Young, commenting, "There were instances of significant pressure at times. Bryce demonstrated accuracy and quick release. We found ourselves in challenging field positions, which we were unable to overcome. While we had opportunities to put ourselves to the test, we couldn't effectively handle those situations. However, these situations offer valuable lessons for improvement."

Despite the pressure, Young displayed composure in the pocket and remained unfazed. His first pass showcased his ability to go through progressions, connecting with Adam Thielen for an 8-yard gain and securing the club's sole first down in the three drives. Subsequently, he quickly delivered a short pass to D.J. Chark. Notably, all of Young's completions were short-range or behind the line of scrimmage, with only a single downfield attempt.

Young struggled on third downs, missing throws under pressure to Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. On the final third down, he was sacked amid intense pressure.

Young commented on dealing with hits from the Jets' pass rush, stating, "Physicality is inherent to football; it's part of the job description. While it's a component of the game, I stay focused on the task at hand and executing my plays effectively."

Although Young's poise and progression capabilities are encouraging, the limited playing time prevents significant takeaways. Nonetheless, he showcased his resilience and determination.

Reich reflected on Young's resilience, stating, "The impact of the initial hit was substantial. I asked him during the second half, just to check in. I inquired about his experience with that formidable welcome to the NFL hit. He mentioned he felt fine and barely registered the impact."

The offensive line's struggles overshadowed Young's debut. Despite having four starters, the Panthers struggled to establish a push in the run game and failed to provide sufficient protection, especially at the right guard position. The rotating right guard position resulted in a sack surrendered by Michael Jordan during Young's drives.

Facing the formidable Jets defensive line, which consisted of non-starters, exposed vulnerabilities in numerous offenses this season.

While Young entered the NFL with concerns about his slender physique, which was not problematic during his college career and dismissed by the Panthers' staff, the struggles of the offensive line in Saturday's game have reignited these concerns.

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