Bryce Young looks sharp, throws first TD pass in final tune up for regular season

CHARLOTTE — Bryce Young completed 7 of 12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in his final tune up before the regular season, and the Carolina Panthers lost 26-17 to the Detroit Lions on Friday night.

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Teddy Bridgewater #17 of the Detroit Lions prepares to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Camerun Peoples #32 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Antoine Green #80 of the Detroit Lions reacts following a touchdown reception during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Andy Dalton #14 of the Carolina Panthers attempts a pass during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown looks on during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers is introduced prior to a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers prepares for the snap during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball for yardage during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers reacts with teammate Adam Thielen #19 following a touchdown pass during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers warms up during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 and head coach Frank Reich of the Carolina Panthers slap hands during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Derek Wright #83 of the Carolina Panthers kisses baby Jaegger before a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: A detailed photo of the SPYDA face shield worn by Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Shaq Thompson #7 of the Carolina Panthers warms up prior to a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Assistant coach Jim Caldwell of the Carolina Panthers talks with members of the Detroit Lions coach staff during a preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers warms up before a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Detroit Lions v Carolina Panthers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 25: A detailed photo of a "Keep Pounding for Maui" shirt worn by the Carolina Panthers during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft looked sharp leading scoring drives on his only two possessions, the second culminating in his first TD pass — a 16-yard strike to veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen for a 10-0 lead. The heady 22-year-old rookie from Alabama also showed outstanding pocket awareness, scrambling three times for 21 yards and two first downs.

[ ALSO READ: Panthers RB Miles Sanders confident he’ll be ready to play in regular-season opener vs. Falcons ]

Young led a 14-play, 52-yard drive to open the game, resulting in a 41-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro. A pass interference penalty on the Lions extended Carolina’s second drive. Young took advantage when he found Thielen, who beat third-string nickelback Will Harris near the left sideline for the score.

Thielen finished with four catches for 48 yards after shaking off an early back injury.

The Lions rested starting quarterback Jared Goff.

Teddy Bridgewater played the entire first half and led four scoring drives for Detroit (2-1). He finished 13 of 22 for 178 yards, including a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass to rookie Antoine Green in the closing seconds of the first half.

Green, the team’s seventh-round pick from North Carolina, finished with three catches for 97 yards.

Craig Reynolds ran for 41 yards and a 5-yard touchdown as the Lions built a 20-10 halftime lead. Rookie cornerback Steven Gilmore returned a Jake Luton interception for a touchdown with 3:01 left to seal the win.

Andy Dalton made his preseason debut for the Panthers (0-3) after being sidelined with a back injury. He finished 6 of 11 for 60 yards and an interception in the end zone.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Open regular season at Atlanta on Sept 10.

(Traffic Team 9: Uptown road closures for Panthers preseason game)

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