Young throws 3 TD passes, including 2 to Waller, as Panthers dominate short-handed Falcons 34-3

ATLANTA (AP) — In his previous visit to Atlanta, Bryce Young commanded the spotlight.

This time, Young shared the glory with Devin Lloyd and the Carolina defense.

Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Darren Waller, Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and the Panthers routed the short-handed Atlanta Falcons 34-3 on Sunday.

The Panthers (1-1) earned their fourth straight win in the NFC South rivalry. Young completed 23 of 36 passes as he improved to 5-1 against the Falcons. He set a franchise record with 448 yards passing in a 30-27 overtime win to cap last season's sweep.

The Panthers defense enjoyed a dramatic turnaround one week after setting franchise records for points and rushing touchdowns allowed in a 59-37 loss to Chicago.

“It was a collective effort,” said coach Dave Canales. “We knew they were going to try to run the ball after last week. And the defense came together. We shored up some things.”

Lloyd had nine tackles, one sack and three pass deflections in addition to two of the Panthers' three interceptions.

“Man, it was special,” said Young of Lloyd's performance. "He’s a leader. He does all the little things that, you know, people don’t see. For it to come out in a performance like that, it is really cool to see. I don’t know if I’ve been a part of something that cool. ... I mean, that’s surreal. It was really fun to watch.”

With fill-in starter Cooper Rush at quarterback, the Falcons (0-2) had more offensive woes following their 20-13 opening loss at Pittsburgh last week. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) again were inactive.

Rush completed 10 of 17 passes for 86 yards with two interceptions and also lost a fumble.

The Panthers held the Falcons to only 286 yards, including 72 rushing yards by Bijan Robinson. The Falcons’ only points came on Nick Folk’s 41-yard field goal.

Waller, 34, has developed a quick chemistry with Young after signing with Carolina on Aug. 13. He had three catches for 33 yards, including the scoring catches of 12 and 7 yards.

“He has played so much ball, so obviously he’s a pro,” Young said. "Us getting on the same page quickly has been just a lot of conversation ... being able to have a guy that’s played so much ball that I trust.”

Following his first home regular-season game as Atlanta's coach, Kevin Stefanski said Rush did not deserve all the blame for the loss.

“Cooper’s giving us everything he’s got, and unfortunately, you know, we turned the ball over there, including on the first play, which should never be a turnover,” Stefanski said. “So those are the types of things ... those are correctable. We’ve got to get them fixed.”

Stefanski would not announce a starting quarterback for Thursday night's game at Green Bay.

Rush's struggles from his very first snap were so dramatic that some Falcons fans were booing six minutes into the game. He lost a fumble on a 9-yard run to open the game. Atlanta’s second possession ended when Rush’s pass intended for Robinson was intercepted by linebacker Bobby Okereke. There were more boos during the game.

“I love our fans a lot, every single one of them,” Robinson said. “If we let ourselves focus on the boos and things like that, that will creep into our mind and that will make us have a bad performance. I know that just comes with the game. It's our job for them to not boo.”

Rush was replaced by undrafted rookie Jack Strand late in the third quarter, prompting an ovation from Falcons fans. Strand's first possession ended badly as his pass for Jahan Dotson was intercepted by Lloyd and returned 16 yards for a touchdown. Strand lost a fumbled snap on his final possession.

Panthers safety Nick Scott (ribs) left in the first quarter and was ruled out. Linebacker Claudin Cherelus suffered a shoulder injury on kickoff coverage in the first quarter and was listed as questionable. Linebacker Trevis Gipson Sr. returned after being evaluated for a possible concussion. Running back Jonathon Brooks aggravated a groin injury. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (back) was inactive.

Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, who had been questionable with a shoulder injury, left in the first quarter with a groin injury. Linebacker Samson Ebukam (hamstring) left late in the first half. RT Jawaan Taylor (ribs) was listed as questionable in the fourth quarter. Right guard Chris Lindstrom (concussion protocol) started after being listed as questionable.

Panthers: at Cleveland next Sunday.

Falcons: at Green Bay on Thursday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (13) passes the ball during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes the ball during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes (21) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson (4) during an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd (55) celebrates after an interception during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in Texas' capital of Austin, local authorities said, and anti-ICE protesters quickly gathered at the scene.

The unnamed man was in serious but stable condition at a hospital after being shot once in the torso on the city's north side, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference with the mayor and other city officials.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not participate in the news conference and didn’t immediately respond to requests for details.

Austin police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, which occurred after a traffic stop, Davis told reporters.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said he wants the city's police department to be involved in the investigation so it can provide “clear, third-party eyes” in the process. Watson said he does not think it would be appropriate for ICE to conduct an investigation on its own.

Austin residents have “a right to feel safe in their city,” Watson said. A proper investigation will only enhance credibility, he added.

Davis said she did not yet know the nationality of the person who was shot. The chief said there were not many facts she could provide so soon after the incident, but added that her department’s special investigation unit was at the scene.

A dark blue Toyota Corolla was parked under an overpass with damage to its passenger-side door and what appeared to be bullet holes, local media reported.

A large law enforcement presence was at the scene, along with a crowd of about a hundred protesters. Some demonstrators cursed at police officers holding riot shields, while others yelled out as passing cars honked in support of the protest. One man held a sign saying, “Nobody is safe” and, on the other side, “ICE Nazi.”

Asked if Austin authorities knew where the involved federal agent is, given that agents have left states after previous shootings nationwide, the mayor said: “We do not know that. But my hope would be that, an agent that’s involved in an officer-involved shooting would not leave the city. Certainly not leave the state."

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat representing parts of Austin, called for transparency as the shooting is investigated.

“It is awful that this horror has come to our doorstep," Casar told reporters. "For Austin to be safe, ICE should end its surge here.”

The shooting comes as ICE surges enforcement across the country this summer, producing more than 50,000 arrests a month for the first time in its history in July and August.

In July, an ICE officer fatally shot 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, of Houston, after federal agents driving unmarked vehicles pursued him while he was taking his construction crew to a job site.

Also in July, 25-year-old Johan Sebastián, a Colombian man, was shot by an ICE officer in Maine. The officer is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood and never should have been given a badge and gun to patrol American streets, several of his close relatives told The Associated Press.

The administration’s enforcement efforts were widely condemned last winter after the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota.

Weber reported from Los Angeles. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Kimberlee Kruesi in Providence, R.I.; and Tim Sullivan in Minneapolis.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson speaks during a news conference at Austin City Hall, Sept. 20, 2026, after a federal immigration agent shot and wounded a man in North Austin, Texas (Sara Diggins/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar speaks during a news conference at Austin City Hall, Sept. 20, 2026, after a federal immigration agent shot and wounded a man in North Austin, Texas (Sara Diggins/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks during a news conference at Austin City Hall, Sept. 20, 2026, after a federal immigration agent shot and wounded a man in North Austin, Texas (Sara Diggins/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

In this photo taken with a smart phone Police block a street after a shooting involving an ICE officer in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesse Bedayn)

In this photo taken with a smart phone Police block a street after a shooting involving an ICE officer in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jesse Bedayn)

FILE - A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)