The Carolina Panthers will bench former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and start veteran Andy Dalton as the team’s starting quarterback, coach Dave Cannellis announced Monday.
The decision to bench Young was made by Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tillis, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The decision was made during a position meeting, the source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Andy gives us the best opportunity to move forward,” Canales said, adding that Young will serve as Dalton’s backup against the Raiders.
Young had a historically bad day in Sunday’s 3-26 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, finishing with just 84 passing yards, fourth-fewest in team history among quarterbacks with at least 25 passing attempts.
He became the third player in the last 20 seasons to start four straight seasons averaging less than four yards per dropback. He has three interceptions and zero touchdowns in two starts this season.
After the game, Panthers coach Dave Canellis had no hesitation in saying that Young would start next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Those plans have changed.
“That’s what I did after watching the film,” Canales said Monday. “I watched the film and started talking to the people who were making the decisions. There were definitely a lot of parties involved, and ultimately it was up to me. My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win, and this move gives us the best opportunity to do that.”
The Panthers have started 0-2 for the second straight season and fifth time in the past six. They were blown out 72-13 by the Chargers and New Orleans Saints.
Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has gone 2-16 as a starter since the Panthers moved up eight spots in the 2023 NFL Draft to acquire Young. The Panthers invested heavily in the trade with Chicago, sending wide receiver DJ Moore and four draft picks to the Bears, one of which turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after the Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 last season.
Dalton, 36, last started for the Panthers in Week 3 of the 2023 season when Young was sidelined with an ankle injury. In that game, Dalton passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
Dalton is 83-78-2 as a starting quarterback in the NFL, having spent last season with the Panthers. He has 246 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions since entering the league with Cincinnati in 2011.
ESPN’s David Newton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
