Panthers bench Bryce Young, to start Andy Dalton vs. Raiders
The Carolina Panthers are benching former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and going with veteran Andy Dalton as the 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 Tillis, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The team was informed of the move during position meetings, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Young had a historically bad day in Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, passing for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in team history for a quarterback with at least 25 pass attempts. He became the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two starts this season.
Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, is 2-16 as the starter since the Panthers traded up eight spots in the NFL draft in 2023 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 No. 1 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 while Young was out with an ankle injury. In that game, Dalton passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
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