New Panthers star doles out immense praise for Bryce Young after one matchup

Tershawn Wharton was struck by his one game against Bryce Young.

Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) scrambles in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Bryce Young has faced off with the Kansas City Chiefs once, so he got to see what a defensive line with Tershawn Wharton is like. Wharton, one of the latest additions to the Carolina Panthers defense, also got an up-close look at his future quarterback during a November matchup in Charlotte. The Panthers nearly beat the Chiefs, falling only on a last-second field goal.

Tershawn Wharton’s one game in Carolina was in Week 12, when #Panthers QB Bryce Young went 21 of 35 for 263 yards and one TD passing to go along with 20 yards rushing.

What the former #Chiefs defensive lineman / newly signed Panther said about his new quarterback. pic.twitter.com/OrzD2MHXY3

— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) March 19, 2025

Wharton was impressed, though. He said per Alex Zietlow, "I like that guy a lot. I really like him a lot. I think he showed growth through last year. I think he's ready to show that he's a top quarterback. He's got a sense in the pocket that's dangerous. He's got an arm. And if he needs to move around to get a first down, he can do it. So I'm really confident in him."

Young's stature makes him an interesting opponent for defensive linemen. Wharton admitted that Young being "a little guy" makes defensive players want to hit him hard enough to feel it, but that's much easier said than done. The newest Panther added, "It's like he's got eyes in the back of his head. He knows how to escape. He moves around a little bit. And when he's on the run, he can still make every throw as if his feet were set."

Wharton and the Chiefs got an early look at the resurgence of Young. He was benched and returned to the lineup in Week 8, and shortly thereafter, the Panthers hosted the Chiefs, and Young put on a show. It probably didn't influence Wharton then, but recalling Young's play gives him confidence that he's not going from a Super Bowl team to an absolute basement-dweller.

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