The Carolina Panthers are leaving former first-round pick Bryce Young on the bench and sending experienced Andy Dalton into the race as starting quarterback, coach Dave Canales said Monday.
The decision to bench Young was made by Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tilis, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team was informed of the move during position meetings, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Andy gives us the best chance for the future,” Canales said, adding that Young will be Dalton’s backup in the game against the Raiders.
Young had a historically bad day in Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing for just 84 yards, the fourth-fewest mark in team history for a quarterback with at least 25 passing attempts.
He became the third player in the last 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per dropback in four consecutive starts. In two starts this season, he had three interceptions and no touchdowns.
After the game, Canales said without hesitation that Young would be the starter in the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
These plans have changed.
“This is something after I saw the film,” Canales said Monday. “I looked at it, thought about it and started talking to the people we make decisions with. There are certainly a lot of parties involved and ultimately it’s up to me. My number one responsibility is to help the Panthers win and this move gives us the best chance to do that.”
The Panthers are off to an 0-2 start for the second straight season and the fifth time in the last six years, beating the Chargers and New Orleans Saints 72-13.
Young, the top pick in the 2023 draft, has a 2-16 record as a starter since the Panthers traded up eight spots in the 2023 NFL Draft to get him. The Panthers made a significant investment in that deal with Chicago, sending wide receiver DJ Moore and four draft picks to the Bears – one of which turned out to be the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after the Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 last season.
Dalton, 36, last started for the Panthers in Week 3 of the 2023 season when Young was sidelined with an ankle injury. In that game, which Carolina lost, Dalton threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
Dalton is 83-78-2 as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Since entering the league in 2011 with Cincinnati, he has thrown 246 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions.
ESPN’s David Newton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
