NFL Rumors: Bryce Young Benched by Panthers; Andy Dalton to Start vs. Raiders

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 16, 2024

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The Carolina Panthers benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Bryce Young, in favor of Andy Dalton.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported the news:

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroAfter an 0-2 start, Dave Canales watched the tape and decided a change was needed. Players were just informed of the move and Dalton starts Sunday at Las Vegas. https://t.co/oGdEMteJWV

Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero#Panthers coach Dave Canales, speaking to reporters now, says Bryce Young will be the No. 2 QB behind Andy Dalton on Sunday at Las Vegas and the team doesn’t plan to add another quarterback. “Andy gives us our best chance to win this week.” https://t.co/oGdEMteJWV

Joe Person @josephpersonDave Canales declines to say what role David Tepper had in the Bryce Young decision. pic.twitter.com/NR92UujGe4

Adam Schefter of ESPN added:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterThe decision to bench former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young is said to have come from HC Dave Canales, GM Dan Morgan and EVP Brandt Tillis. As one source said, “Dave Canales’ first big-boy decision.” https://t.co/GO9i14Z7jC

The news doesn’t come as a major surprise—the Panthers are 0-2, and Young has thrown for just 245 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while taking six sacks and completing just 55.4 percent of his passes.

There were two major reactions to the news.

The first was that, given Young’s struggles, the Panthers didn’t have much of a choice and some time on the sidelines might be the best thing for the young player’s development:

Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCroninBrutal to do this two weeks into the season but if the Panthers see this as rock bottom, maybe there’s hope that some time for Bryce Young to regroup/learn behind a veteran the way he wasn’t able to as QB1 since long before he was ready for that role can save his career. https://t.co/IA9TtIFqSt

Gregg Rosenthal @greggrosenthalBryce Young looked so much worse in these two games compared to the end of last year. This was a mercy benching and also puts Canales on the clock quickly

The second was that the Panthers, as an organization, are an absolute mess, and the decision to bench Young is the end result of a long history of poor decisions in the David Tepper era (which includes trading two first-round picks, two second-rounders and DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the top overall pick in 2023, which was used to select Young rather than C.J. Stroud):

Louis Riddick @LRiddickESPNThe Carolina Panthers have mishandled the entire QB situation from beginning to end. From the evaluation/valuation, to selection, to development, support , and utilization. A total fail over the past 24 months, when this “current” process began.

Adam Gorney @adamgorneyThe Panthers organization is utterly clueless from top to bottom.

Benching Bryce Young like any of the issues are his doing is just the latest example.

Bryce deserves so much better! Surround him with any talent and protection and see what he can do.

Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticksPanthers roster is in rough shape. They are years away from being good/competitive. Derrick Brown is a stud (he’s out with injury). There’s not a single other player that scares you on either side of the ball. They desperately need difference makers.

Frank Schwab @YahooSchwabCan’t write off anyone 2 games into their second year, but unless there’s some incredible revival coming, it’s hard to imagine a more disastrous first overall pick. When you think of what the Panthers gave up – in picks and opportunity cost on Stroud – might be the worst ever.

Jonathan Jones @jjones9I personally believed that the investment the Panthers made in Young, plus the hiring of Dave Canales, plus the entire preseason would give Young another week. This is a huge move to make so early in the season.

The timing of the move was all the more surprising given the comments made by head coach Dave Canales on Sunday.

“Bryce is our quarterback,” he told reporters. “We’re going to continue to shore and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme standpoint, all those things.”

Young’s teammates also had his back publicly.

“I love that kid,” veteran wideout Adam Thielen told reporters. “He works his butt off. It’s too early in the season to be talking about all that. We need to be better around him, to give him confidence and trust in what we’re doing.”

“No doubt, no question,” wideout Diontae Johnson added when asked if Young gave the Panthers the best chance to win.

Instead, Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tillis decided after Sunday that 36-year-old Andy Dalton is the best option for the time being. If Young can rebuild his confidence while sitting behind him, Monday’s decision may ultimately be nothing more than a rough patch for the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner.

But it’s also possible that the Young era in Carolina has now come to a close.