“FRUSTRATION BOILS OVER” — Bryce Young SLAMS Helmet in Fiery Sideline Outburst as Panthers Collapse 26-10 in Week 1
‘Frustrating day’ for Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers in season-opener
The Carolina Panthers responded to a 17-point halftime deficit by driving to the doorstep of a touchdown on the first possession of the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
On third-and-2 at the Jacksonville 6-yard line, Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard gained 1 yard on a draw. On fourth down, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young failed to connect with wide receiver Xavier Legette.
As the Carolina QB came off the field, Panthers coach Dave Canales patted him on the head and shoulder and said something to the former Alabama All-American. Young’s response was to slam his helmet to the ground and say something over his shoulder.
It was that kind of game for the Panthers, who opened the 2025 NFL season with a 26-10 loss to the Jaguars.
Young said he wasn’t mad at his coach.
“Just competitive nature,” Young said. “That’s all. Probably could do a better job – definitely could do a better job with body language there. It’s on me, but, you know, just competing and that’s all.”
Canales said frustration was the theme of the day in a game that had a 77-minute lightning delay in the second quarter.
“I’m never going to share that kind of stuff with, you know, publicly,” Canales said when asked about the incident. “I think that’s just something that he and I will work through and talk about. But his frustration wasn’t directed at me. We were just talking about we got to keep playing ball. …
“I think it was just a frustrating day in general, so I think there’s a lot of guys that would come up here and tell you they wish they could do better.”
Young also had an incompletion on fourth-and-5 at the Jacksonville 33 later in the third quarter, and he lost a fumble at the Jaguars 32 at the end of a 7-yard scramble in the second quarter.
Young threw interceptions at the Carolina 32-yard line in the second quarter to set up Jacksonville’s first touchdown and with 44 seconds to play.
Carolina went for it again on fourth-and-10 at the Jacksonville 32 with 5:08 to play, and safety Andrew Wingard ran back an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. But the Jaguars lost the score to a defensive-holding penalty, and on the next snap, Young threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Hubbard with 4:47 remaining.
The game was the seventh of Young’s career with at least two interceptions. Carolina has lost all those contests.
“Obviously, can’t turn the ball over like that,” Young said. “It cost the team. I have to be better than that in just bare decision-making.”
The Carolina offense converted on eight of its 15 third-down snaps on Sunday.
“When you have a 50 percent or better day on third down, that typically means longer drives,” Canales said. “That typically means more rushing yards, more chances for explosives as the defense start to show us their hand and what they’re doing. To end in turnovers, you know, we weren’t able to capitalize on a day that could have been a really consistent, complementary day of football.”
Young completed 18-of-35 passes for 154 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and ran five times for 40 yards. He was sacked once in the opening game of his third NFL season.
The Panthers play the Arizona Cardinals at 3:05 p.m. CDT Sept. 14 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“Obviously, no one likes to lose, but it’s Week 1,” Young said. “We’re going to watch it tomorrow, and we’re going to wear it. We’re going to see where we can grow from, and then after that, we’re going to flush it. We have a long season ahead. We’re going to push our best to be the best we can be every single day. That doesn’t change.”
Bruins' Jeremy Swayman faces make-or-break season: Will he rebound or crumble under pressure?
The Boston Bruins' 2025-2026 season may hinge on the performance of one player: Jeremy Swayman. After an abysmal year in 2024-2025, which saw the 26-year-old goaltender posting career-worst numbers, Swayman finds himself in a do-or-die situation. If he doesn’t rebound, the Bruins could be staring at another season in the basement of the Atlantic Division.
The struggles were undeniable last season. From missing training camp due to a financial stalemate to failing to find any consistency in net, Swayman finished with a dismal 3.11 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage in a career-high 58 games. While injuries to key defensemen like Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm certainly didn’t help, the spotlight shone brightest on Swayman’s inability to deliver when it mattered most. Add to that the criticism surrounding his $8.25 million contract, and the pressure is now at an all-time high.
For Swayman, this season is not just about proving himself to the Bruins organization. It's about proving his worth to Team USA, with a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2026 Winter Games on the line. With elite goaltenders like Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger competing for the same spot, Swayman can't afford to falter early. Any struggles could push him out of the Olympic conversation entirely.
“That's always the hardest problem with being a goalie,” Hellebuyck explained at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp. “There are multiple guys but only one net.”
Indeed, Swayman knows that if he doesn't perform, others will take his spot. But the pressure doesn't end there. Without no-trade protection on his contract until next season, Bruins GM Don Sweeney may be forced to make a decision on Swayman’s future sooner than expected.
“We have an endless belief mindset,” Swayman said, trying to stay focused on the present. “We can’t predict what’s going to happen, but the thing is that we can control what we can control, right here, right now.”
However, with backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo hardly posing a challenge to Swayman’s role, it’s clear that the onus is squarely on the young goaltender. A slow start could easily sink the Bruins’ playoff aspirations and seal Swayman’s fate.
"This season is make or break for me. I've had my fair share of struggles, but I’m not backing down. The pressure is on, and I’m ready to prove that I belong at the top. It's time to take control of my career and show the world that I’m not just the goalie of the past—I’m the future of this team," Swayman declared, putting his focus on bouncing back and earning the trust of both his team and his fans.
With a season packed with both personal and team-related stakes, this is undeniably a boom-or-bust year for the young goalie. Will Swayman rise to the challenge, or will this be the season he gets lost in the shuffle?
One thing’s for sure: Swayman’s performance will be under the microscope all year long, and his every move will be scrutinized. The future of the Bruins—and his career—could very well be determined by how he handles the immense pressure.
