By Lauren Merola, Joe Person and Dianna Russini
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will not start Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos, coach Dave Canales said Wednesday, after Dalton and his family were involved in a car crash in Charlotte on Tuesday. Bryce Young, who was benched after Week 2 will start.
Following the accident, no one in Dalton’s car was transported by emergency medical personnel, but the 36-year-old QB was evaluated by the Panthers medical team. Canales said that Dalton has a sprained thumb but the team is hoping he’ll be able to be the backup Sunday.
Dave Canales said Bryce Young has been a “stud” throughout the process.
Panthers view Andy Dalton as day to day. The hope is they can get him ready to be the backup vs. Broncos.— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 23, 2024
“I’m thankful it is what it is, because it could’ve been worse,” Dalton said.
After Carolina’s 40-7 loss — its fourth straight — to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Canales said Dalton would continue as the team’s starter with Young as the backup for the Week 8 road trip to Denver.
Dalton, a 14-year NFL veteran, has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 989 yards and seven touchdowns against six interceptions this season. The Panthers are 1-4 since he stepped in to replace Young under center in Week 3.
After the first two weeks of the season, the Young experiment in Carolina took a turn for the worse and Dalton stepped in to give the team a spark and its first win of the season — while also becoming the first NFL quarterback this season to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in the same game.
Bryce Young says he’s focused on the day to day during the past five weeks on the bench. pic.twitter.com/n0y7v5ZoUk
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 23, 2024
Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, threw for 299 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in the first two games, both losses. The Panthers went 2-14 under Young in 2023.
On Wednesday, Young said he’s spent the past weeks watching film and “trying to work to be better every day.” Both Canales and Dalton praised Young for how he’s handled the benching.
“He’s been great” Dalton said. “… he’s handled this whole situation really well. I’m so thankful for it, I’m so thankful for our friendship and what we’ve been able to build. There’s things I can lean on him for, there’s things he can lean on me for. It’s definitely grown us closer.”
The Panthers are 1-6 and sit last in the NFC South.
How did Dalton get hurt?
Dalton was driving his family — his wife, three kids and their dog — were on their way home and then on to after-school activities when their Tesla collided with another vehicle about two miles from Dalton’s south Charlotte home, causing the airbags in both vehicles to deploy.
Dalton didn’t want to disclose details about the accident, but said he felt fortunate that everyone, including the other driver, avoided serious injury. Dalton said after the shock of the incident, he felt pain in the thumb of his throwing hand. When MRIs revealed a sprain, Canales called Young to tell him he’d be starting again. Canales said the hope is Dalton will be able to back up Young at Denver. — Joe Person, Panthers beat writer
What does Carolina need to see out of Young?
For starters, Young needs to show more confidence than he displayed during the first two weeks, when last year’s No. 1 pick looked like a shell of his former Heisman Trophy-winning self.
Young’s failure to stay in clean pockets and work through his reads prompted Canales to bench Young, who’s spent the past five weeks running the scout-team offense. Young will have his hands full against the Denver defense, which is ranked third overall and fifth against the pass. But veteran tight end Jordan Matthews said if the Panthers can get Young some early completions, it would go a long way towards restoring his confidence. — Person
Asking around the league about what Carolina should do about Bryce Young, most believe they need to get him really prepared at practice and put him in a few games. This would help his value in the event they decide they want to move on from Young, potentially improving their compensation. — Dianna Russini, Senior NFL insider
(Photo: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
