CHARLOTTE — The last time Bryce Young played the Falcons, he played his best game in the NFL and appeared to be having a ton of fun.

He was also out there with a couple of offensive linemen he's familiar with in Cade Mays and Chandler Zavala, who were replacing the injured Austin Corbett and Robert Hunt in the starting lineup that week, and again.

And this week, Young's a lot more likely to talk about one than the other.

With his famous forward-focused approach, Young didn't spend much time on last year's 44-38 overtime win against the Falcons, which included the no-look touchdown to Tommy Tremble that was replayed millions of times this offseason as evidence of what he's capable of.

"Again, not the answer you're looking for, but I'm really not a look-back guy; I'm just telling you my truth," Young said with a laugh on Wednesday. "Again, I'm super grateful. I'm grateful for where I'm at, I'm grateful to be a part of this team. I'm grateful for everything we have this year.

"And I couldn't be more excited, to be able to go out with this group again on Sunday, so that's really all my focus is."

Young not looking back is no surprise; that's how he's wired. Although it's fair for people to look back on that game, when he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two against the Falcons, with a makeshift lineup that included the same offensive line he'll have this week.

While acknowledging the loss of Corbett and Hunt, who were placed on injured reserve Tuesday, he's confident in the work Mays and Zavala can do.

"Obviously, just as a team as a person, I feel for Corb, feel for Rob, feel for the guys that went down," he said. "Throughout the team, throughout the league, it's a rough game, and obviously, there are those consequences. So just as people, I feel for them and everything that guys are going through.

"When it comes to Cade and guys stepping up, I'm super comfortable with everyone. Again, it's a lot of experience in that room, especially experience in the system, experience here. That definitely is a luxury for us, having a lot of reps with Cade, other guys that they're going to step up that have already played downs. I'm grateful for that, being able to have that experience and that confidence, so it's next man up."

Legette limited in practice; teammates offer support

Receiver Xavier Legette was limited in practice on Wednesday, as the team took a cautious approach with the second-year player, given hamstring soreness.

The soreness first popped during practice on Wednesday, according to Panthers head coach Dave Canales, and so the athletic training staff moved Legette to the sideline ahead of team periods, where he worked through a few rehab drills.

"He started off the practice and he got through the individual part of it," Canales saidn following practice, also referencing the 68 plays Legette was on the field for Sunday against the Cardinals. "And then we just thought it was smart to just kind of shut him down for the day. We'll reevaluate him and see where we're at tomorrow."

Regardless of Legette's status in practice the rest of this week, his coaches and teammates voiced their support again on Wednesday for the former first-rounder, given his four-reception start.

"I have all the confidence in the world in him; he's a great player," said Young of Legette on Wednesday. "He's going to be great for us. He's a huge part of this offense. It's not any sort of wavering, any sort of—there's nothing like that. I'm excited for this week. I'm excited for the weeks following for him."

Echoed receiver Tetairoa McMillan, "I'm not worried about him at all. I know that come Sunday, he's going to show up, and the main thing for me, and what I see in him, is his confidence. He's a confident dude, and he's staying confident regardless of the outcome, regardless of whatever's going on. We all preach about the ball finder, and I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to come out on Sunday and make a play and be the reason why this team is doing so good."

This receiving corps experienced significant turnover during the offseason, up to the beginning of the regular season. As such, there has been some shuffling and redrawing of concepts. Canales is taking on the responsibility of ensuring Legette is put in a position to make an impact, as his team believes he can.

"It's not all on X. This is me too," Canales admitted. "I have to make it, I have to make sure I do a great job of putting him in positions to do the things that he's shown us he can do well in the past.

"So, I take it personal as well and and that's something that I'm committed to making sure that happens and you know (receivers coach) Rob Morris is right next to him, he's in his ear and and just continuing to coach him and talk to him and and that's the thing too, for all the guys, remember who you are, remember what you've been at your best and you'll do that again and that's this type of self talk that you have to have and believe, that if I continue to work I'll do that again."

Panthers run defense getting big test in Bijan Robinson

Falcons coach Raheem Morris called running back Bijan Robinson "definitely the best player in football, without a doubt," on Wednesday, and Canales is not inclined to disagree.

In four career games against the Panthers, Robinson has 60 carries for 332 rushing yards and four touchdowns (with a 28-170-2 line in last year's finale). "He's just a really balanced player, he's explosive in the run game and the pass game," Canales said. "He's got great vision, power, quickness, speed, all the things that you want. And also just his gamesmanship; he's a competitor and you can see him fighting, you can see him trying to find a way to affect the game and help his team."

The Panthers allowed just 82 rushing yards last week in Arizona, their best run defense game in nearly a calendar year, but they'll have to be even more sound this week.

"Play together, team tackle," Canales replied when asked the best way to slow Robinson. "We've got to rally to the ball. When you have a fantastic player like this, it takes multiple people to make sure they're doing their assignment and everybody rallying to the ball, everybody being there, and trying to limit the amount of space that he gets.

"The more space he has, the more dangerous he can be. So it's got to be team football."

Rest days for Jaycee Horn and Hunter Renfrow, and they were earned

Veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow was added to the injury report as limited with a non-injury-related/rest designation, along with cornerback Jaycee Horn.

And if there's anyone who deserves a breather, it's Renfrow.

The 69 snaps he played Sunday against the Cardinals were the most he's played in his NFL career, which is saying something for a 29-year-old who is two games into a comeback after a year out of the game. He was also on the injury report last week with a rib issue, which added to Canales' admiration.

"Great," Canales said when asked how he was handling the physical strain. "And battling through some, some bumps and bruises last week too to get out there and perform the way he did and be someone we can count on coming out of it with two touchdowns. And we're just continuing to grow together and learn from the things that he's able to do.

"I'm excited about the progression that Hunter's been on."

Still much to learn about Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has started only five games in his NFL career and appeared in seven total. It creates a conundrum of sorts for defenses, like the Panthers this weekend. Because while it may mean the young passer is still raw, it also gives opponents little on which to prepare.

"It's kind of hard to go off for like one game—like he's had what, five starts, give or take—so it's kind of hard to say he looks different from last year to this year when we only played two games, but you know he's still out there slinging it," explained corner Mike Jackson.

Penix, to Jackson's point, is still slinging it as he takes hold of the Falcons' job. Through his seven games and five starts, Penix has completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 1,208 yards and four touchdowns, plus 31 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

It's how he distributes the ball, though, that really has Jackson and the Panthers' attention this week.

Said Jackson, "They got weapons. They're moving guys around, putting guys in different positions, and they just want to get their playmakers the ball."