CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Younger on Monday was benched in favor of Andy Dalton, lower than 24 hours after coach Dave Canales declared that the highest decide of the 2023 draft would stay his starter for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Younger, 23, turns into the primary quarterback chosen No. 1 within the frequent draft period (since 1967) to be benched for noninjury causes in his second season.
Canales stated he made the change after reviewing movie of Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, through which Younger posted a career-low 6.4 QBR.
Canales didn’t specify whether or not proprietor David Tepper had a say within the choice however famous common supervisor Dan Morgan and government vice chairman Brandt Tilis have been a part of the dialogue.
Finally, although, “this was my choice,” Canales stated.
“Definitely numerous events concerned there, and in the end this comes on me,” stated Canales, who was employed earlier this yr for his popularity for turning round quarterbacks corresponding to Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. “My No. 1 duty is to assist the Panthers win, and so this transfer places us in the perfect probability to do this.”
Younger has gone 2-16 because the starter since Carolina traded up eight spots with the Chicago Bears to draft him No. 1 final yr. He is 0-2 this season with the Panthers dropping to the Chargers and New Orleans Saints by a mixed 73-13.
Younger’s 8.9 QBR after two video games is by far the worst within the NFL amongst certified quarterbacks this season. Chicago’s Caleb Williams, who was chosen No. 1 within the 2024 draft with a decide acquired from Carolina within the Younger commerce, is subsequent closest at 23.9.
It isn’t the worst two-game stretch since ESPN started compiling QBR, nevertheless. Matthew Stafford averaged 5.6 in 2009 with the Detroit Lions, and Dalton averaged 7.4 in 2017 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dalton, 34, cannot look forward to the chance to show himself, however he additionally empathized with Younger.
“After I got here right here, I wasn’t positive if I used to be going to get one other alternative to start out once more,” Dalton stated with an enormous smile. “And so I am actually trying ahead to it. I am enthusiastic about what’s forward.
“It is a powerful state of affairs. I have been on either side of it, and it is onerous on everyone. However for me, I imply, I am trying ahead to it.”
Younger was blindsided by the information, a league supply near the state of affairs instructed ESPN, significantly after what gave the impression to be a vote of confidence from Canales on Sunday. Younger even had thanked Canales for sticking with him.
“I am very blessed,” Younger stated after Sunday’s recreation. “I am grateful for this problem. Not a super begin, however God does all the pieces for a purpose. I place confidence in that.”
Dalton stated he “wasn’t anticipating” the information when Canales let him know of his choice, however he added that he has “been praying for an additional alternative.”
Dalton’s final begin got here within the third recreation final season, when then-coach Frank Reich sat Younger, who had an ankle damage, for one recreation after an 0-2 begin. Dalton accomplished 34 of 58 cross makes an attempt for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
He would not anticipate to throw that a lot at Las Vegas.
“I do not suppose we went into that [Seattle] recreation saying that we have been going to throw it 58 instances, both,” stated Dalton, a second-round decide by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. “It is simply the character of it.”
Younger has thrown for under 244 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns in two video games this season. The Panthers have transformed an NFL-worst 2 of twenty-two third-down alternatives underneath Younger in these video games, together with 1 of 12 in opposition to the Chargers.
Canales would not say if the choice to bench Younger was a long-term or short-term state of affairs. He additionally would not predict whether or not Younger would bounce again from this to have a great profession.
The Panthers invested rather a lot in Younger. They traded two first-round picks (2023, 2024), 2018 first-round decide DJ Moore and a 2025 second-round decide to the Bears to maneuver from ninth to first in final yr’s draft.
Panthers tight finish Tommy Tremble nonetheless believes in Younger.
“We have not finished the perfect [as teammates] to assist him present his capacity,” Tremble stated. “I’ve seen the flashes and what he does every day in apply. I believe simply collectively as a gaggle I really feel dangerous that we could not present that on Sundays.”
The Panthers signed Dalton, who’s 83-78-2 as a starter, previous to the 2023 season due to his expertise as a starter and coming off the bench with the Cowboys, Bears and Saints.
“Andy provides us our greatest probability shifting ahead,” Canales stated.
Younger had a traditionally dangerous day in opposition to the Chargers. He handed for under 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in crew historical past for a quarterback with at the least 25 makes an attempt.
He grew to become the third participant up to now 20 seasons to common 4 or fewer yards per dropback in 4 straight begins. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two begins this season.
After the sport, Canales, with out hesitation, stated Younger can be the starter heading into the sport in opposition to the Raiders.
These plans modified rapidly after Canales reviewed movie and talked to others. He first shared his choice to vary starters with Younger, then Dalton and the crew.
Canales would not go into specifics in regards to the conversations.
“I watched the movie, I had a thought in thoughts, all of us talked and I needed to make the choice that was finest for the crew,” Canales stated. “I actually take it private. That is about constructing a tradition, that is about constructing a soccer crew that performs to a sure fashion, and that is my primary focus.
“And above all, it is to assist the Panthers to win. So that is what the choice was about.”
