Bryce Perkins joined the Carolina Panthers this week, following an MVP season with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). Perkins was signed as a fourth quarterback for Carolina after Andy Dalton suffered an elbow injury during Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans. With Bryce Young and other starters set to rest against the Steelers, Jack Plummer is expected to be the only other available quarterback for Thursday’s final preseason matchup.
Perkins arrived in Charlotte on Sunday and participated in his first practice Monday morning. He spent time introducing himself to offensive teammates before taking part in drills. Reflecting on his quick transition, Perkins said, “It’s good when you get the practice script, you get the game plans, you can do a pretty good job of learning the basics of everything.”
He brings experience from three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and familiarity with similar offensive schemes. “I was in LA for a few years, so kind of similar stuff, carryovers, just different names,” Perkins explained. “The biggest focus is just getting the basics, get the call right, know where you’re going, and then once you feel comfortable with that, we’ll see how down pack I can get it before Thursday to be able to feel confident about playing off of different things and different nuances within the same scheme.”
Perkins described adapting quickly to new play calls: “The hardest part is you have a long play call, right? If you have like, say ‘Double right, fake Ocho Charlie, fly, keep right, Y-sail, something something’ and then you’ll can it with a whole other long play call and it’ll be like, man, it gets hectic,” he said. “I start off with like, ‘OK, well have I called this play before?’ And then kind of try to get that word association with that play… been in a system where sometimes you have to learn long play calls so it kind of helps — you don’t really realize that it helps until you go somewhere new and you have to learn a few different things on the fly.”
During his UFL season despite missing three games due to injury Perkins completed 69 percent of his passes for nearly 2,000 yards along with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for over 300 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns.
Looking back at his time in another league as preparation for returning to NFL competition Perkins noted improvements in reading defenses post-snap accuracy strength and pocket presence: “Really worked on like post-snap reads being able to see the field. I think I see the field a lot better,” he shared. “I think I can throw — a lot more accurately with my throwing and I’m stronger a lot more zip on the ball. But really being able to post-snap recognition see the field and work the pocket that’s kind of some of the things I really worked on.”
Perkins views Thursday’s preseason finale as an opportunity not only for himself but also for others trying out: “UFL was great you know there’s always some things like OK it’s the UFL right but there’s really great talent in the UFL but kind of outside looking in some people may think that. So show development of my game and progression… since my last stint in NFL put some good tape out there let it go.
“And also you know coming in as a new guy too a lot of guys that I’m on field with are trying—they’re auditioning they’re trying make team as well so I got do my part for them so I can help them out. I can’t be out here slacking.”
Panthers head coach Dave Canales welcomed Perkins’ arrival noting both his recent success elsewhere and prior NFL experience: “It’s great to just be able to reward somebody who’s gone to another league played so well but also spent three years with Rams,” Canales said.
“There is some carryover some words are familiar him but it’s kind marriage two different systems But football’s football he’s played lot; he’s played significant snaps so I’m excited him here.”
