NFL Rumors: Panthers player Bryce Young ‘very shocked’ about being benched for Andy Dalton | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors
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The Carolina Panthers surprised the NFL world on Monday with their decision to bench quarterback Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that head coach Dave Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tillis made the decision.
Schefter quoted a source as saying it was “Dave Canales’ first big-boy decision,” while NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported it was quite a surprise for the quarterback himself:
Jordan Schultz @Schultz_Report
Sources: #Panther Quarterback Bryce Young and his confidants were “very shocked” by the organization’s decision to bench him this morning. “It came out of nowhere,” a source said.
It is safe to say that no one expected the plug to be pulled after just two games with a new coaching staff. pic.twitter.com/OAuu0P4Oc8
This is Canales’ first season as an NFL head coach, and Carolina hired him after he helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the playoffs as offensive coordinator.
As for Young, it’s pretty surprising that the 2023 No. 1 pick was benched so early in his career, even though he had struggled up to that point. Those problems were only compounded by the fact that Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was selected No. 2 in the same draft and has developed into one of the league’s best signal-callers.
Young finished the 2023 season with a 59.8 percent passing percentage for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 16 games, in addition to rushing for 253 yards.
Due to Young’s difficulties, the Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich on November 27 after 11 games and replaced him with special teams coordinator Chris Tabor in the interim.
However, the Panthers continued to struggle even after the coaching change and finished the 2023 season with a record of 2-15.
Carolina hired Canales as their new head coach for the 2024 season, and the Panthers certainly hoped the move would pay off for the development of Young and the rest of the roster.
But Young will now be benched in favor of Dalton, a three-time Pro Bowler but also in the final stages of his career. He turns 37 in October and has a 33-52-1 record as a starter since the 2016 season.
Last season, he started one game for the Panthers and completed 34 of 58 passes for 361 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
