Panthers vs. Lions on SNF: Can Bryce Young put a banged-up Panthers team on his back?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A couple of key injuries to defensive starters come as a high-flying offense led by quarterback Jared Goff invades Bank of America Stadium.

That should sound familiar to the Carolina Panthers, who put starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve Wednesday, four days before the 2016 top overall pick and the Detroit Lions' top-10 offense come to Charlotte for a "Sunday Night Football" matchup.

Less than ideal timing, for sure.

The Panthers faced similar circumstances in Week 13 last year, when Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams traveled across the country as 10-point favorites to face an undermanned defense missing four starters -- Horn, linebackers Christian Rozeboom and Claudin Cherelus and safety Tre'von Moehrig, who was suspended for the game.

The defense did its part, ending Stafford's NFL-record streak of 28 touchdown passes without an interception by picking him off twice, including one that Jackson returned for a 48-yard touchdown.

But quarterback Bryce Young also met the moment, completing 15 of 20 passes for 203 yards to lead the Panthers to a 31-28 upset. Young, a No. 1 pick like Stafford and Goff, threw a pair of fourth-down TDs to Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan in the second half and finished with his career-high passer rating (147.1).

On Sunday, with starters missing on both sides of the ball for the Panthers, Young has another chance to put the team on his shoulders.

"He always goes out and when we need him most, he always shows up. I think that's something that's evident in how his game is," Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble said. "You look at his resume over the last few years. And every time there's a big moment, he shows up every single time."

Young is off to the best start of his four-year career. He's the first quarterback in team history to lead the league in passing yards (939) through three games. He's completed an NFL-leading 11 passes of 25 yards or longer and is tied for fifth with seven passing touchdowns.

But Young could be without two of his top three receivers this week. Xavier Legette is week-to-week with a knee injury, while Jalen Coker missed Wednesday's walk-through with a quad strain. Left guard Damien Lewis (elbow) has already been ruled out.

Young was asked whether he has to guard against trying to do too much against a Lions defense ranked last in the league in passing yards allowed (299.3 per game) and points allowed (31.7), and second-to-last in total yards allowed (416.7).

"I trust my guys. I trust this team. Obviously, I feel for all the guys that have been down, just on a personal level. But I have confidence in the entire group," he said. "The guys that have been here, the guys that are new here, they put a lot of work in. They're all pros. I have confidence in everyone on the team."

Young was also on the injury report after hurting his left knee in last week's 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Young came up limping after getting sacked by Mason Graham on a fourth-and-3 play in the second quarter.

"I'm not a doctor. But me personally, I feel good," said Young, who was listed as a full participant Wednesday.

Graham's sack was one of three for the Browns on Young, who has been pressured on an NFL-high 62 of his dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. The offensive line, with two new tackles due to injuries to Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu, has struggled to give Young clean pockets.

Rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling has allowed more pressures (14) than anyone in the NFL, while left tackle Rasheed Walker's 13 pressures are tied for the second most, according to PFF. But Young downplayed the pressure numbers while defending his blockers.

"I'm not big on the Next Gen stats or how they come in," he said. "I have all confidence in the world in us up front (on) the line. Everyone that does our protection work throughout the week, I have confidence in them. Again, I don't know what the stats say but we have a great group and it's not all anyone's fault."

But Young's success despite shoddy protection has been impressive.

"It was a lot of pressures recently. But he's still been able to get the rock out, get guys the ball," Tremble said. "And that's something you can only wish a quarterback can do in situations like that."

Panthers coach Dave Canales said Young is doing more than just beating blitzes.

"It's not just blitz. It's like when anything goes wrong, he kind of thrives," Canales said. "I have in my mind just practice reps, game reps where it's a bad snap, look for something to happen. It's put him in a mode. When things kind of go crazy and he just stays calm. He sees them as opportunities to be aggressive."

Young will get an opportunity for his first win in a prime-time game, though the Panthers haven't had many since he arrived. Young is 0-3 under the lights, falling to New Orleans and Chicago (the Tyler Bagent game) his rookie year and at San Francisco last season.

This will be the Panthers' first SNF appearance in 10 years, dating back to the infamous Cam Newton wardrobe malfunction game at Seattle when he was benched for the first series for not bringing a tie on the two-week West Coast trip. Derek Anderson, who started in place of Newton, threw an interception on his first pass and the Seattle Seahawks rolled to a 40-7 win.

Young's SNF debut will include some baked-in adversity, given the Panthers' long list of injured guys. But he's been there before, even if last year's Rams game kicked off at 1 p.m.

"I know this is an important year for not only him but the team, and he's rising to the occasion. That's what great players do," Tremble said. "Even in situations that aren't as favorable and getting pressures, that's tough to deal with as a quarterback. But he's not rookie Bryce anymore. He's a grown man that likes to handle his business."

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.