The Panthers are reportedly benching their first-round pick Bryce Young and letting Andy Dalton start in Week 3
Two weeks with Bryce Young was enough for Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Panthers are benching Young, their 2023 first-round pick, and will start with the experienced Andy Dalton starting in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sources: The #Panther are benching former first-round pick Bryce Young and experienced starter Andy Dalton starting this week.
Coach Dave Canales has repeatedly said, “Bryce is our quarterback.” But with the season quickly coming to an end, Canales decided to make a change. pic.twitter.com/jTYawQCi2C
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) 16 September 2024
The Panthers fell to 0-2 on the season after a 26-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. They were crushed 47-10 by the resurgent New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Young has struggled mightily in those two games, with one touchdown this season on a three-yard run against the Saints, but so far without success. He has, however, thrown three interceptions and completed 31 of 56 passes for 245 yards.
Young started 16 games for the Panthers in his rookie year in 2023, but did not live up to his draft spot. He won only two games and often seemed overwhelmed and inferior.
Who made the decision appears to have been made jointly by Canales, Morgan and Executive Vice President Brandt Tillis.
The decision to bench former No. 1 pick Bryce Young was reportedly made by HC Dave Canales, GM Dan Morgan and EVP Brandt Tillis. As one source said, “Dave Canales’ first big boy decision.” https://t.co/GO9i14Z7jC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) 16 September 2024
Dalton is now a backup specialist. Not only did he start for Young in Week 3 last year, but he has also had to replace a benched or injured QB1 several times during his career. With the Dallas Cowboys, he played several games for the injured Dak Prescott in 2020. He replaced James Winston when he was with the Saints in 2022 and then secured the starting spot for the rest of the season.
At 36, Dalton is no longer a luminary, but he is a solid mid-to-lower-range starter who is very reliable if anything. He’s a veteran who can at least get things moving in the right direction. Right now, the Panthers need that more than a struggling Young.
