ATLANTA
Bryce Young has returned to the game after heading to the locker room because of an ankle injury.
The Carolina Panthers’ third-year quarterback spent a few minutes on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf in the first quarter after a third-down sack — which came courtesy of a blitz and hard hit from Falcons cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. — before receiving medical attention on the field from Panthers training staff. He then was helped up and walked off the field on his own power.
The team told reporters that Young sustained an ankle injury a few minutes into his time in the locker room. Young was initially considered questionable to return, but he returned to the game with 7:52 remaining in the first half.
A replay review of the sack showed Bowman inadvertently stepping on Young’s right ankle when he initiated the contact. Young returned with a massive amount of wrap over his ankle.
This is not the first injury to Young’s right ankle of the season. In Week 7 against the Jets, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound quarterback also hurt the same ankle — and missed the rest of the game, as well as the entirety of the next game, because of it.
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is down on the field with an apparent injury during Sunday’s first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Todd Kirkland Getty Images
Young was off to a great start at the time of his injury Sunday. He exited the contest 8 of 9 for 82 yards and one touchdown for a passer rating of 141. 7. The bulk of that came on the first drive — which culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan.
He exited the game with the score at 7-7; he returned with the Falcons leading, 14-7.
The Panthers weren’t the only ones impacted by a quarterback injury. Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr., after a QB hit late in the third quarter, exited the game with a reported knee ailment. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins played in his stead.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
Alex Zietlow
The Charlotte Observer
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
