Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales hugs quarterback Bryce Young (9) after getting the win against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Panthers name QB Bryce Young starter in Munich

The Carolina Panthers week-to-week decision-making at quarterback continues with Bryce Young given the start for this week’s game against the New York Giants in Munich, Germany.

It will be the third straight start for Young after getting benched in favor of Andy Dalton in Week 3. Dalton started five games before injuring his wrist in a car accident, thrusting Young back into the starting role without a long-term commitment about his status in that spot.

“This is about progress from one week to the next,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday.

Young earned his first win as the starter last week, throwing for 171 yards and a touchdown and an interception in a 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Young has struggled through his first 22 games as a pro since being the No. 1 overall pick of the Panthers in the 2023 draft, amassing 14 TDs against 16 INTs. He’s 3-17 as the starter overall.

The Giants and Panthers take 2-7 records to Germany, where Brian Daboll continues to be asked on a weekly basis if Daniel Jones is still New York’s starter.

Daboll said “nothing changes” when asked again Monday if Jones was his QB1 in Germany.

Jones was 20 of 26 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and 54 rushing yards and a touchdown last week against Washington.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Panthers QB Bryce Young to start against Saints

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will make his second straight start on Sunday against the visiting New Orleans Saints.

Head coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that Andy Dalton was a full participant at practice but continues to rehab his sprained right thumb.

Young regained QB1 status last week after Dalton was injured in a car accident. Young completed 24 of 37 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in last Sunday’s 28-14 loss at Denver.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Young is 0-3 as a starter this season and the Panthers (1-7) have lost five straight heading into their Week 9 NFC South clash with the Saints (2-6).

Young, 23, has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 523 yards with two TDs and five interceptions this season. He threw two of those picks in a 47-10 Week 1 loss at New Orleans. Dalton, who turned 37 on Tuesday, has completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 989 yards with seven scores and six picks.

Canales was not ready Wednesday to commit to Young as the starter beyond this weekend.

“Bryce will be starting this week,” Canales said. “We’ll collect all the information over the week with Andy, with Bryce, how he plays this week, and then we’ll make another decision next week.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) listens to quarterback Bryce Young (9) as they warm up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Bryce Young to start for Panthers; Andy Dalton hurt in crash

Bryce Young will start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers this week after Andy Dalton showed up on the injury report with a sprained right thumb on Wednesday.

Dalton was held out of practice Wednesday, one day after he was involved in a car accident while traveling with his wife and three children in Charlotte, N.C.

“Scary moment for sure,” coach Dave Canales said Wednesday. “Everyone was OK. Everyone’s healthy. Unfortunately in the accident he did sprain his thumb, so Bryce will be playing this week for us and we’ll be evaluating Andy day-to-day going into this weekend, see if we can get him up as the two (backup QB) on game day.”

Carolina (1-6) plays at Denver (4-3) on Sunday.

Dalton replaced Young as the starter in Week 3. Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has completed 56.9 percent of his passes for 299 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in four games (two starts) this season.

Dalton, 36, has thrown for 989 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions in five starts this season.

A 14-year veteran, Dalton has tallied 39,500 career passing yards with 253 touchdowns and 150 interceptions in 175 games (1686 starts), mostly from his nine-year tenure with Cincinnati (2011-19).

Dalton and Young are the only quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Rookie Jack Plummer is on the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Winless Bengals face familiar face in matchup vs. Panthers

It could be all about Andy Dalton again this weekend when the Carolina Panthers meet the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dalton made a smooth transition to a starting role at quarterback for the Panthers, guiding the team to its first win of the season last weekend.

Next, he’ll be tasked with beating his former team Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s always fun to get the opportunity to go against them,” said Dalton, who spent his first nine seasons with Cincinnati after being selected in the second round of the 2011 draft.

Given how the first two weeks went on top of last season for the Panthers (1-2), it’s hard to imagine that they’re entering a game with a better record than the opponent.

But they are, as the Bengals (0-3) are coming off Monday night’s 38-33 loss to the visiting Washington Commanders. Cincinnati’s three defeats have come by a total of 12 points.

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said this isn’t the position the team expected to be in, but he isn’t panicking.

“A long season, things can always evolve,” Taylor said. “What we do is make sure we don’t overreact. Let’s really fine-tune how we can actually improve, and not just decide we have to make wholesale changes.”

Dalton replaced 2023 overall No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young as Carolina’s starter last week. He threw three touchdown passes without an interception in a 36-22 victory at Las Vegas.

“This is just one step, and we got to go back to work and just feel the urgency that the whole group has,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.

Taylor coached Dalton in his first year as Cincinnati’s coach in 2019, and said he appreciated Dalton’s contributions for the Bengals.

“Always been grateful for Andy,” he said. “He led us through a very difficult time. I’m not surprised that he keeps getting opportunities and makes the most of them because of how he prepares and the talent that he has.”

The Bengals have concerns far beyond Dalton.

“A new opportunity for this team to prove themselves,” Taylor said. “This is a very humbling week. There are a lot of ebbs and flows and right now we’re on the downside of that.”

It’s not often Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks in recent years, enters a game overshadowed. Burrow has thrown five touchdowns without an interception but has been sacked eight times this season.

The Bengals need to shore up areas on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

“Offensively, you can’t waste any plays,” Taylor said. “… Defensively, I think things that can be improved is making plays in space when the opportunities are there.”

With a new mindset, Carolina might be able to open a larger playbook based on their first victory.

“We saw more opportunities that allowed guys to play aggressively and just be free and have fun,” Canales said. “We want to continue attacking.”

The Panthers will look for more weapons to complement Dalton after receiver Adam Thielen was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. He suffered a hamstring injury on a touchdown reception Sunday against the Raiders.

Left guard Damien Lewis (elbow) did not practice Wednesday, nor did defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (knee), defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (foot) and cornerback Lonnie Johnson (hip). Safety Nick Scott (quad) was limited.

The Bengals will be without offensive lineman Trent Brown, who left Monday’s game with a season-ending knee injury. Defensive linemen B.J. Hill (hamstring) and Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, along with defensive end Trey Hendrickson (illness). Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder), who reeled in two touchdown catches on Monday, was limited.

“We have got to make sure they’re in the right place before we get them back,” Taylor said of Hill and Rankins.

If there’s grumbling in Cincinnati, this might be an ideal time for the team’s second road trip of the season.

“The beauty of the pros is we know how to block that out and focus on what’s important,” Taylor said.

The all-time series is tied 3-3-1, with the Bengals winning the last matchup 42-21 at home in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers coach: Bryce Young isn’t being shopped

Bryce Young is no longer Carolina’s starting quarterback, but the Panthers aren’t ready to send him packing.

That was the message Wednesday from Carolina coach Dave Canales, who announced two days earlier that veteran Andy Dalton would start this week against the host Las Vegas Raiders.

Young and Panthers (0-2) lost 26-3 to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, leaving the second-year quarterback with just two wins in 18 NFL starts. Carolina selected the former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Asked whether the Panthers are ready to deal Young to another team, Canales said, “That’s not something we’re really considering. We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now with guys that have experience. We love where we are at, and it’s all hands on deck.”

Canales praised Young’s effort on Wednesday as the No. 2 quarterback.

“Right back to work,” the coach said. “He dove into the game plan. We had our conversations in the QB room, talking about reads, about what we see from the defense. He followed it up with a great day on the field, some fantastic throws.

“He just got right back to work, which is exactly what I expected.”

The coach added regarding Young’s future, “This is a developmental-minded program, so the development didn’t stop (when he was removed from the starting role). Every rep he’s out there, we’re evaluating the whole thing, having conversations and continuing to push all of our guys, including Bryce, to take the next step.”

Young, 23, has completed 55.4 percent of his passes this year for 245 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Last year, he connected on 59.8 percent of his attempts for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 picks.

Dalton, 36, spent nine seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals’ starter and has since started games for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Carolina. The three-time Pro Bowler has attempted just one pass this year, and it was incomplete.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) runs on to the field before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers ‘don’t know yet’ if Bryce Young returns Sunday

Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich said Monday he is unsure of quarterback Bryce Young’s status this week.

Young sat out Sunday’s 37-27 loss at Seattle with a sprained ankle after Reich said the rookie would be out 1-2 weeks.

Andy Dalton replaced the 2023 No. 1 overall pick and passed for 361 yards and two TDs against the Seahawks.

Young, 22, told Reich on Sunday that his ankle was feeling better, according to NFL Network.

Reich said he was not sure whether Young will be at practice Wednesday when the Panthers (0-3) begin preparing to host the Minnesota Vikings (0-3) this Sunday.

“Don’t know. Don’t know yet,” Reich said. “We’ll see how tomorrow goes and then Wednesday. I’ll give you an update then. But I know he’s done everything possible to try to put himself in position, too.”

Young passed for a combined 299 yards with two TDs and two interceptions in losses against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 and the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during pregame warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers QB Bryce Young still hurting; Andy Dalton could start at Seattle

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton took the first-team reps Thursday for the second day in a row with rookie No. 1 pick Bryce Young hobbled by a sprained ankle.

Young had his ankle checked out after the Monday night home loss to the New Orleans Saints and missed the Wednesday walkthrough before being held out of the team’s first full practice of the week Thursday.

“We have some general principles that we operated by, not absolutes, that we say, ‘Hey, how many days of practices are needed for a younger player to play?’” head coach Frank Reich said. “If he’s a younger player, maybe you want him to practice a little bit more.”

Young, 22, is 0-2 to begin his career. The No. 1 overall pick has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions so far.

The Panthers twice took out Young in short-yardage situations against the Saints, bringing in Dalton, a move Reich later said was done to “limit the exposure” of their franchise QB.

Dalton said Thursday he’s preparing as he always has — to be ready to play — and hasn’t been informed if he’s starting this week.

“We’ll see how it goes as the week goes on. With Bryce down right now, I’m getting the reps and preparing like I do every week,” Dalton said.

Carolina offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said Young was hurt early in the loss to New Orleans but played through it. He said Young is genuine and will be honest with the franchise about his health when it comes time to make a call about Week 3 at Seattle (1-1).

“It’s a great environment,” Dalton said of the Panthers playing in Seattle. “You talk about NFL environment and crowd noise, it’s one of those places that first hits your brain.”

The Panthers also listed edge rusher Brian Burns (ankle), linebacker Justin Houston (calf), running back Miles Sanders (pec) and linebacker Chandler Wooten (knee) as limited for Wednesday’s walkthrough.

Jake Luton was signed to the practice squad to give Carolina multiple healthy quarterbacks in practice.

–Field Level Media

Apr 28, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Bryce Young holds up a jersey depicting his draft position at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young to enter minicamp as No. 2 QB

The Carolina Panthers are planning to ease No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young into their offense, making him QB2 at the outset of camp season.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich said primary backup Andy Dalton will be the de facto first-string QB when minicamp begins. Young is Carolina’s projected starter for the 2023 season.

“He’ll have to earn it. Obviously, that’s the way it should be,” Reich told The Athletic on Monday. “We’ll know when the right time is. He’s got enough going on right now. I just want him to come in and learn the offense and not have to worry about stepping into the limelight. Just come in, learn the offense, get to know these guys. When we step out onto the field the first time, he’ll be in that No. 2 spot.”

The Panthers also have Matt Corral and Jacob Eason on their QB depth chart. Corral was taken in the third round of the 2022 draft, albeit by a different regime in Carolina at the time.

Young went 24-3 as a starter at Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in 2021.

Young spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa, winning the 2020-21 national championship as a backup to 2022 first-rounder Mac Jones.

In 36 games for Alabama overall, Young threw 80 touchdown passes and completed 624 of 949 passes (65.8 percent) for 8,356 yards. He holds numerous program records, including five games with five touchdown passes and single-season marks for passing touchdowns (47) and passing yards (4,872).

Young, along with Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson, is the co-favorite to win 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs to the locker room after the game against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Andy Dalton joining Panthers on 2-year deal

The Red Rifle is heading to his fourth team in four years, as quarterback Andy Dalton is signing a two-year, $10 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, multiple reports said Tuesday.

Dalton has racked up 29 starts for the Dallas Cowboys (2020), Chicago Bears (2021) and New Orleans Saints (2022) after his nine-year stint as the starter of the Cincinnati Bengals ended after 2019.

Dalton, 35, is more likely to be a mentor and insurance plan than a starter in Carolina, as the Panthers traded up with the Bears to acquire the No. 1 overall pick on Friday and are expected to select their franchise QB of the future.

In 14 starts for the Saints last season, Dalton completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,871 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The three-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 38,150 yards, 244 touchdowns and 144 picks in 166 games (162 starts) in his 12 NFL campaigns.

ESPN reported that Dalton’s deal includes $8 million fully guaranteed.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Saints 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

QB Andy Dalton to start for Saints vs. Seahawks

Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will start Sunday for the New Orleans Saints against the Seattle Seahawks, with Jamies Winston still battling injuries.

Winston hasn’t practiced all week due to back and ankle ailments.

Dalton started last week against the Minnesota Vikings in London, with the Saints losing 28-25. But the 34-year-old Dalton was 20-for-28 passing for 236 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought Andy did a nice job. He performed well in the game, and in the second half we got into a pretty good rhythm offensively,” coach Dennis Allen said Friday. “That’s why Andy’s here. He’s a proven vet.”

In his 12th season, Dalton has a 77-70-2 record as a starter with the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Saints.

Dalton won’t have Michael Thomas to throw to for the second straight week, with Allen declaring Thomas out with a foot injury. Fellow wideout Jarvis Landry was limited in practice this week with an ankle injury and is questionable, but Allen said he thinks Landry will play.

The Saints (1-3) and the Seahawks (2-2) met last season in Seattle, with the Saints winning 13-10.

–Field Level Media