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David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on Monday was benched in favor of Andy Dalton, less than 24 hours after coach Dave Canales declared that the top pick of the 2023 draft would remain his starter for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Young, 23, becomes the first quarterback selected No. 1 in the common draft era (since 1967) to be benched for noninjury reasons in his second season.
Canales said he made the change after reviewing film of Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, in which Young posted a career-low 6.4 QBR.
Canales did not specify whether owner David Tepper had a say in the decision but noted general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tilis were part of the discussion.
Ultimately, though, “this was my decision,” Canales said.
“Certainly a lot of parties involved there, and ultimately this comes on me,” said Canales, who was hired earlier this year for his reputation for turning around quarterbacks such as Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. “My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win, and so this move puts us in the best chance to do that.”
Young has gone 2-16 as the starter since Carolina traded up eight spots with the Chicago Bears to draft him No. 1 last year. He’s 0-2 this season with the Panthers losing to the Chargers and New Orleans Saints by a combined 73-13.
Young’s 8.9 QBR after two games is by far the worst in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks this season. Chicago’s Caleb Williams, who was selected No. 1 in the 2024 draft with a pick acquired from Carolina in the Young trade, is next closest at 23.9.
It is not the worst two-game stretch since ESPN began compiling QBR, however. Matthew Stafford averaged 5.6 in 2009 with the Detroit Lions, and Dalton averaged 7.4 in 2017 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dalton, 34, can’t wait for the opportunity to prove himself, but he also empathized with Young.
“When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again,” Dalton said with a big smile. “And so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited about what’s ahead.
“It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s hard on everybody. But for me, I mean, I’m looking forward to it.”
Young was blindsided by the news, a league source close to the situation told ESPN, particularly after what appeared to be a vote of confidence from Canales on Sunday. Young even had thanked Canales for sticking with him.
“I’m very blessed,” Young said after Sunday’s game. “I’m grateful for this challenge. Not an ideal start, but God does everything for a reason. I have faith in that.”
Dalton said he “wasn’t expecting” the news when Canales let him know of his decision, but he added that he has “been praying for another opportunity.”
Dalton’s last start came in the third game last season, when then-coach Frank Reich sat Young, who had an ankle injury, for one game after an 0-2 start. Dalton completed 34 of 58 pass attempts for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
He doesn’t expect to throw that much at Las Vegas.
“I don’t think we went into that [Seattle] game saying that we were going to throw it 58 times, either,” said Dalton, a second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. “It’s just the nature of it.”
Young has thrown for only 244 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns in two games this season. The Panthers have converted an NFL-worst 2 of 22 third-down opportunities under Young in those games, including 1 of 12 against the Chargers.
Canales wouldn’t say if the decision to bench Young was a long-term or short-term situation. He also wouldn’t predict whether Young would bounce back from this to have a good career.
The Panthers invested a lot in Young. They traded two first-round picks (2023, 2024), 2018 first-round pick DJ Moore and a 2025 second-round pick to the Bears to move from ninth to first in last year’s draft.
Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble still believes in Young.
“We haven’t done the best [as teammates] to help him show his ability,” Tremble said. “I’ve seen the flashes and what he does on a daily basis in practice. I think just together as a group I feel bad that we couldn’t show that on Sundays.”
The Panthers signed Dalton, who is 83-78-2 as a starter, prior to the 2023 season because of his experience as a starter and coming off the bench with the Cowboys, Bears and Saints.
“Andy gives us our best chance moving forward,” Canales said.
Young had a historically bad day against the Chargers. He passed for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in team history for a quarterback with at least 25 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.
After the game, Canales, without hesitation, said Young would be the starter heading into the game against the Raiders.
Those plans changed quickly after Canales reviewed film and talked to others. He first shared his decision to change starters with Young, then Dalton and the team.
Canales wouldn’t go into specifics about the conversations.
“I watched the film, I had a thought in mind, we all talked and I had to make the decision that was best for the team,” Canales said. “I certainly take it personal. This is about building a culture, this is about building a football team that plays to a certain style, and that’s my main focus.
“And above all, it’s to help the Panthers to win. So that’s what the decision was about.”