Two weeks into the new season, the Carolina Panthers benched former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and promoted Andy Dalton to starting quarterback Monday.
The Panthers (0-2) have scored a combined 13 points in their first two games under new head coach Dave Canales. Young threw for just 84 yards on 26 pass attempts in Sunday’s 26-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also tossed an interception.
Young, 23, became just the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per pass play in four straight starts, according to ESPN. He has zero touchdowns against three INTs in two games this season.
Canales said after the game that Young would remain the team’s starter in Week 3 at the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1). He changed his mind less than 24 hours later.
“I just owe it to all the guys, the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody involved to be really critical about what we put on film, about what I’m seeing and to make sure that I’m constantly making the best decision for the team every week,” Canales said.
“And it happens to be the quarterback position and so it’s loaded that way, but it’s every position and it’s all the guys. And I was able to stand in front of the team and challenge all the guys that we all have to step up our passion for what we’re doing to play.”
Canales said a number of parties discussed the move but declined to reveal the extent to which team owner David Tepper was involved in the decision.
“Ultimately this comes on me,” Canales said. “My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win. This move, I believe, puts us in the best position to do that this week.”
Dalton, 36, is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with a record of 83-78-2 in 14 seasons. He has thrown for 38,511 yards and 246 TDs against 144 INTs for five teams, most notably the Cincinnati Bengals (2011-19), who drafted him in the second round in 2011.
As a journeyman backup and fringe starter, Dalton has made starts for the Dallas Cowboys (2020), Chicago Bears (2021), New Orleans Saints (2022) and Panthers (one start in 2023).
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Dalton told reporters. “I’m excited about what’s ahead. It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it. It’s hard on everybody.”
–Field Level Media
