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Bryce Young has played much better since returning to the Carolina Panthers starting lineup five weeks ago, and the gradual progression of late has been the most encouraging. A coach who recently prepared for his team to play against the Panthers noted that Young’s comfort in the pocket has been a launching point for improvement.
Young has completed 60.4 percent of his passes over the past five games for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and an 83.5 passer rating. He’s also logged 82 rushing yards and a score. They aren’t gaudy numbers, but they’ve been efficient.
Young, who has had three head coaches (one interim) in two seasons, started poorly and was benched after two games. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass as the Panthers only generated 13 points in two blowout losses, and he was picked three times and sacked six times.
To think, Young’s return to the field wasn’t even part of the plan. Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident, so the Panthers had no choice but to go back to Young.
He had one of his best statistical performances in his re-debut, a 28-14 loss to the Broncos, before leading the Panthers to tight victories against the Saints and Giants. But Young really caught everyone’s attention when he rallied the offense for a game-tying drive against the Chiefs, who ultimately won at the buzzer. And Sunday, Young was again nails in crunchtime in a tough overtime loss to the Buccaneers.
Kirk Cousins is coming off his worst outing with the Atlanta Falcons, tossing four interceptions in a 17-13 loss to a Los Angeles Chargers team with a strong defense. But the 36-year-old now leads the NFL with 13 interceptions, and he has no touchdowns against six picks during a three-game losing streak that’s dropped the Falcons into a tie with the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
With those factors, along with Cousins clearly still recovering from a torn Achilles, there will be mounting pressure to turn toward rookie Michael Penix Jr. The first-round pick has blown away the Falcons’ brass, from the way he carried himself in the building over the offseason to his regular-season work on the practice field. There’s a lot of optimism over Penix’s future.
Josh Allen returned to the top of the rankings for the first time since Weeks 4-5. The Buffalo Bills QB opened the season at No. 2 behind Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. Allen remained there for three weeks and then struggled for a couple of games before tumbling to No. 4 for four weeks. He earned strong consideration at No. 1 a week ago, and his incredible performance in the snow against the 49ers, coupled with Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s loss to the Eagles, solidified the change.
Baker Mayfield should be good to go this week against the Raiders, according to league sources. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB was still sore Monday after a Panthers defender stepped on the back of his right leg Sunday, causing Mayfield to visit the injury tent and wear a walking boot after the game. But there was no need to undergo further testing. Mayfield has played through far more serious injuries in the past.
Trevor Lawrence will remain in the rankings until a decision has been made on his availability.
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