The Carolina Panthers are starting former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and veteran Andy Dalton as starting quarterbacks, 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 status 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 just 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in team history as a quarterback with at least 25 pass attempts.
He became just the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions in two starts this season.
After the game, Panthers coach Dave Canales said, without hesitation, that Young would be the starter for next week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Those plans have changed.
The Panthers are off to an 0-2 start for the second straight season and fifth in the last six. They were outscored 72-13 by the Chargers and New Orleans Saints.
Young, a top pick in the 2023 draft, was 2-16 as a starter in 2023 in order to trade up eight spots to get him. The Panthers made a significant investment in that deal with Chicago, sending wide receiver TJ Moore and four draft picks to the Bears — who became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after the Panthers finished one league away. A dismal 2-15 last season.
The 36-year-old Dalton last started for the Panthers in Week 3 of the 2023 season while Young was sidelined with an ankle injury. In that game, Dalton passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL Network first reported the Panthers’ quarterback switch.
ESPN’s David Newton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
