Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young throws first touchdown pass of NFL career
The first passing touchdown of Bryce Young’s career is in the books.
With 5:09 left in the first half, the No. 1 overall draft pick found tight end Hayden Hurst on a 4-yard play action pass to the flat on the right side.
That score came on Carolina’s fourth possession and leveled the score of the Panthers’ season opening contest against the Atlanta Falcons at 7 apiece. The play punctuated a drive that lasted 7:18 of game time — 12 plays for 75 yards.
At the time of the score, Young had a decent passing stat-line: 10-of-13 for 86 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
It was also the first Panthers touchdown for Hurst, a tight end out of South Carolina.
Young’s day got off to a good start prior to that drive. On the team’s first possession, Young led an 11-play, 48-yard drive that started on the Carolina 40. It ended on the 11-yard line, after the Falcons stuffed a fourth-and-1 rush attempt by Chuba Hubbard.
His second drive wasn’t so nice. Bouncing in the pocket inside his own 5-yard line, he fired a late toss over the middle that was intercepted by Atlanta defensive back Jessie Bates III. That led to the game’s first touchdown, which was scored by Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, a fellow rookie.
The Panthers’ third drive ended in a punt.
This story was originally published September 10, 2023 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young throws first touchdown pass of NFL career."
