EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Bryce Young scored a touchdown before. leaving with an ankle injuryJaycee Horn intercepted Tyrod Taylor twice after New York benched Justin Fields, and the Carolina Panthers beat the winless Jets 13-6 in Sunday's slumber party for their third straight victory.
It was the first time since Young was drafted No. 1 overall in 2023 that the Panthers (4-3) had a three-game winning streak while he was their starting quarterback, but he was unable to end that streak.
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Now the question is whether Young will miss any significant time.
Young walked into the locker room late in the third quarter and appeared to be limping slightly. The Panthers announced his return was in doubt before ruling him out.
Andy Dalton took over with 34 seconds left in the quarter as Carolina got the ball back 13-3 after Horn intercepted it in the end zone. Young was sacked by John Briggs for a 12-yard loss on his final snap before the Panthers punted.
Before leaving, Young was 15 of 25 for 138 yards and a touchdown. Dalton was 4 of 7 for 60 yards as the Panthers moved above .500 for the first time late in the season since they started 5-3 in 2019. It was also Carolina's first road win this season after losing the first three.
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Xavier Legette had the best game of his career, catching nine passes for 92 yards and a score.
Meanwhile, the Jets (0-7) remained winless under Aaron Glenn, who became the first coach in franchise history to lose the first seven games of his tenure. The Jets also entered the 1996 and 2020 rosters as the only teams to start 0-7.
And now they also have a serious question about the defender.
With the Jets down 13-3 in the third quarter, Fields was replaced by Taylor. Fields was 6 of 12 for 46 yards in the first two quarters and was unable to contribute anything offensively as top receiver Garrett Wilson left the game with a knee injury. With the Jets needing a spark in this matchup, Glenn decided to make a change.
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Taylor ran onto the field to loud cheers from the fans at MetLife Stadium.
The benching comes after Fields was just 9 of 17 for 45 yards in the Jets' 13-11 loss to Denver last Sunday in London, when New York had a career-worst passing minus-10 net yards.
Taylor ran the offense with slightly more success than Fields, but his two interceptions stalled the drive. Taylor was 10 of 22 for 126 yards.
On the Jets' first drive, Glenn elected to go for fourth-and-5 from the Panther 33 rather than attempt a 51-yard field goal. But Fields' throw to Josh Reynolds was incomplete for a loss on downs.
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The Panthers took advantage and moved the ball, capping an effective drive with a 30-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald to go up 3-0.
New York suffered a setback early in the second quarter when the Jets forced Rico Dowdle on fourth-and-1 at the Panthers 49.
On third-and-2 from the 41, Fields picked up a first down and gained 4 yards, but Nick Scott hit him in the head as he slipped. Fields reappeared on the field, but his Jets teammates objected to the hit, which was penalized for a late hit, and pushing and shoving began on the field.
Fields, who missed Week 3 with a concussion, was taken to the medical tent to be checked for a head injury and replaced by Taylor. Nick Faulk kicked a 34-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 a few plays later.
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Fields was fine and returned to the game on the Jets' next series.
The Panthers led 10-3 with 1:11 left in the first half when Young ran away from pressure and found Legette for a 3-yard touchdown. That drive was aided by Tetairoa McMillan's 11-yard catch on fourth-and-3 and Chuba Hubbard's 26-yard catch and run to set up the score.
Injuries
Panthers: LB Princely Umanmielen left twice with injuries, but returned from both.
Jets: CB Sauce Gardner and RB/CR Kene Nwagwu both left the field with concussions. …DT Jay Tufele injured his knee and did not return.
Next
Panthers: Home against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.
Jets: Travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals next Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
