The Carolina Panthers will face the Buffalo Bills without Bryce Young. Their starting quarterback has an ankle injury, which prompted the team to name NFL veteran Andy Dalton to start the game. The ‘Red Rifle’ has revealed his approach for this game.

“I think we’re comfortable with what we’re doing. I think we’ve experienced a lot so far and we can build off the momentum of where we’re at right now,” Dalton said. “At this point I’m just trying to keep this thing going. We’ve just got to keep playing like we can play.”

For Dalton, it’s simple, if the Panthers are winning games, he needs to keep that energy going for the team to compete. Especially against a team like the Bills, Dalton needs to avoid turnovers and be accurate with the football.

Panthers should rely on their running backs

The real strength of the Panthers is their running game. They have a very talented duo of backs in Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. As a matter of fact, Dowdle has 569 scrimmage yards in the last three weeks alone. Hubbard, is coming back from a calf injury, but now they have an elite committee to harm opponents.

The Bills have the 31st-ranked rushing defense in the NFL. Hence, Dalton and company should definitely rely on the two backs to not only score points, but to keep Josh Allen off rhythm and on the sidelines for most of the game.

The Panthers are unbeaten at home

Carolina has a winning record, which is not something you’ve read a lot in recent years. It is 4-3 but the Panthers have made sure their home is respected. They are 3-0 at Bank of America Stadium. They’ve beaten Atlanta (30-0), Miami (27-24), and Dallas (30-27).

Now, the Bills are better than all those teams. Still, if you’re the Panthers, you are not only motivated by that, but also by the three-game winning streak they’re rolling with right now.

The Panthers have struggled to find consistency at quarterback in recent years. Since the departure of Cam Newton, they’ve yet to find a long-term solution under center.

In 2023, Carolina traded several draft picks to acquire the No. 1 overall selection from the Chicago Bears, using it to draft Bryce Young. However, the former Alabama standout has yet to meet the high expectations placed on him.

Dave Canales makes final decision on Bryce Young vs. Andy Dalton

The 2024 season brought significant changes for the Panthers. The team started the year with Bryce Young under center, hoping the former top pick would prove himself as the franchise quarterback.

However, Young struggled early on, and head coach Dave Canales made the decision to bench him in favor of veteran Andy Dalton—a move many saw as the end of Young’s run in Carolina.

But an injury to Dalton opened the door for Young to reclaim the starting job. He finished the season on a stronger note, showing signs of improvement and reigniting the debate over who should start in 2025.

Now, Canales has put the speculation to rest. The coach confirmed that the team is committed to building a stronger offense around Bryce Young, signaling that he will be the starting quarterback moving forward.

“Honestly, my expectations are just wide open, especially as he goes in there with command like he’s been doing this offseason and really just leading the guys,” Canales said, via transcript from the team. “There were some great plays out there, some great timing, throws, but also just the level of comfort like we talked about with the offense, knowing the words, making different tweaks, and he’s a part of that process.

“These are conversations that we’ve been having with him going back to the end of last season that we want to implement and just be able to, especially in the pass game, become Bryce Young offense, become this collective thing and get the chemistry going. I feel really confident about what I saw today, especially going against the defense, and just the speed that we were playing with.”

What does this mean for Andy Dalton?

Following the 2024 season, the Panthers chose to retain Andy Dalton, signing him to a two-year, $8 million extension in February.

While the focus is now on developing Young, Dalton’s presence as a veteran backup is seen as a valuable asset—both as insurance and as a mentor. If Young falters again, the Panthers know they have a reliable and experienced quarterback ready to step in.

When the Panthers drafted Bryce Young in 2023, they expected him to step up as their franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, he has yet to meet those expectations.

During the 2024 NFL season, Young was benched in favor of Andy Dalton. The former Alabama standout eventually regained his starting role, but with Dalton returning, the veteran has made it clear where he stands in the locker room.

Andy Dalton sends a message to Bryce Young about their future with the Panthers

Last season, Bryce Young experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. He went from being the team’s starter to being benched and then reclaiming his role in just a few weeks. His struggles have raised doubts about his long-term future in Carolina.

After a rough start to the 2024 season, the Panthers decided to bench Young in favor of Dalton. The veteran played well initially, but a hand injury sidelined him, forcing the team to turn back to Young.

The former No. 1 overall pick finished the season on a strong note, leading many to believe the Panthers would not bring Dalton back for 2025. However, the team announced his return on a two-year deal—a clear indication that Young’s starting role is not guaranteed.

Following his contract extension, Dalton has been brutally honest about his role with the team. He hinted that he is comfortable mentoring Young, as the Panthers continue building around their young quarterback.

“I think the trajectory of this team is trending in the right direction, and you want to be a part of it,” Dalton said, via the team’s website. “From when it wasn’t as easy to win games and to see where it’s going to go and to feel where it’s going to go. The right people are here, and they’re going to keep adding to it, so it’s something that I didn’t want to just be part of at the beginning of it and then be away and then see the success and see where it goes. But now I want to be part of the whole building of this thing.”

Are the Panthers considering trading Bryce Young?

During the early struggles of the 2024 season, rumors surfaced that the Panthers were considering trading Bryce Young. However, his improved performance down the stretch silenced that speculation, and he is expected to start in 2025.

Despite Young’s progress, the Panthers remain cautious. Reports suggest that he will be evaluated closely in the upcoming season, and if he fails to lead the team to success, Carolina may explore trade options to move on from him.

Finding a top-tier quarterback in the NFL is challenging. While many college prospects are seen as elite by scouts, some struggle to reach expectations once they enter the league.

Bryce Young falls into this category. Despite a stellar college career at Alabama, he has faced challenges meeting expectations, leaving the Panthers eagerly awaiting his breakout.

Panthers name starting quarterback for Week 10 vs. Giants

In 2023, the Panthers traded several picks to the Bears to secure the 1st overall pick, using it to draft Bryce Young, who was viewed as a generational talent.

Young’s start in Carolina has been tough. He was benched earlier this season, and rumors even circulated that the Panthers might consider a trade after his disappointing early tenure.

Andy Dalton stepped in after Young was benched and performed well, but he injured his thumb in a car accident, forcing the Panthers to start the former Alabama player again.

Young has shown improvement since his return. With Dalton fully recovered, there was uncertainty about whether the Panthers would revert to the veteran.

However, Bryce Young appears to have regained the team’s confidence. Head Coach Dave Canales has confirmed the second-year quarterback will start against the New York Giants in Week 10 in Germany.

Why are the Panthers starting Bryce Young in Week 10?

While Andy Dalton is now healthy, the Panthers want to see Young’s progress continue. He has posted two solid performances, and benching him again could be a setback for his development.

“This is about the progress from one week to the next,” Canales said. “I preach finish. I talk about finish all the time. That’s everything. Finish plays, drives, quarters, halves. Finish games. He did a fantastic job at finishing that game the right way. Finding a way to win and really battling that way, so I was really proud of Bryce for that.”

Last year, Bryce Young was widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the NFL Draft. The Panthers traded several picks to secure him at No. 1 overall, hoping to finally have a top-tier player at the position.

However, Young’s time with the NFC South club has not met expectations. This led to his being benched earlier this year, giving Andy Dalton an opportunity to start once more.

Bryce Young or Andy Dalton? Panthers HC shares update on QB competition

The Panthers haven’t had a standout quarterback since Cam Newton. Last year, the team made a bold move, trading multiple picks to acquire Bryce Young with the No. 1 selection.

Despite questions about his size, Young was highly rated by scouts. Unfortunately, his NFL performance has been inconsistent, leading to him being benched after several rough outings.

Andy Dalton took over the starting role in Week 3. The veteran performed well, but a recent car accident injured his thumb, prompting the Panthers to turn back to Young.

After a Week 8 loss to the Broncos, Young continued as the starter for Week 9. The Panthers defeated the Saints at home, with the former Alabama standout delivering a solid performance.

Now, fans are asking if Bryce Young should remain as starter. With Andy Dalton expected to return this week, HC Dave Canales must make a decision on who will face the Giants in Week 10.

“We’ll take in all the information, watch the film, we’ve got to process, we’ve got to make sure we look at all this stuff, and we’ll let you guys know in the next couple days,” Canales said. “Make sure we make the best decision for the team.

“I’ve got to look at the whole thing, I’ve got to watch the film and all that stuff, but he came up big. Just proud of the step he took again, taking all the things we’re asking him to do and getting us to the right place.”

Has Andy Dalton fully recovered from his thumb injury?

In Week 9, the Panthers chose to start Bryce Young due to Andy Dalton’s thumb injury. The veteran had been involved in a car accident with his family, but thankfully, things didn’t escalate.

According to reports, Dalton has now been cleared to play. However, benching Bryce Young again could significantly impact the former No. 1 overall pick, especially as he’s coming off two solid performances.

Last year, the Panthers traded several draft picks to the Chicago Bears to acquire the 1st overall pick. With it, they selected Bryce Young, who was widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect of his class.

Unfortunately, Bryce Young has not lived up to expectations. The former Alabama standout was even benched earlier this year, regaining his role following an injury to Andy Dalton.

Bryce Young or Andy Dalton? Panthers select their starter for Week 9

When Bryce Young arrived in Carolina, he was named the starter for the 2023 NFL season. Expectations were high, as he was seen as the franchise quarterback the Panthers had been searching for.

His rookie season was rocky, with a 2-14 record and a 59.6% completion rate, totaling 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While his numbers were unremarkable, the club anticipated improvement in the next campaign.

However, Young didn’t have a strong start in 2024. After some rough games, the team decided to bench him for Andy Dalton, who won his first start against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dalton was recently involved in a car accident, suffering a thumb injury that sidelined him in Week 8. Bryce Young returned as starter against the Broncos, throwing for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a loss.

His performance was solid, leaving fans wondering if he’d start in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. The second-year quarterback is indeed set to lead the team in this NFC South matchup.

Head coach Dave Canales has announced Bryce Young as the starter for this week against the Saints. Canales mentioned that Andy Dalton is still recovering from his thumb injury, making Young the choice to lead the offense this weekend.

Will Bryce Young be benched once Andy Dalton recovers?

On Thursday, Dave Canales confirmed Bryce Young as the starter for this week. However, he declined to say if Young would remain the starting quarterback beyond this game.

Young showed promise in his return against Denver, and it will be critical for him to deliver a strong performance against the Saints to secure his spot and prevent Andy Dalton from reclaiming the role.

The Panthers are on a four-game losing streak and have a 1-6 record, dashing their hopes of making a deep run this season. There were no plans to make a change at a key position, but Dalton sprained his thumb in a car accident Tuesday and Canales opened the door for Young’s return to the starting lineup.

“I’ve never been out of the game. My job is always, no matter what, to have the same level of preparation. You always have to be ready as if you’re going to play no matter where it is. So that doesn’t change my approach or anything. You never have to take a step back or do things over the phone for a week. I have too much love for a game to do that,” Young stated to the Panther’s official website sending a strong message to Dalton and Canales, proving that he is fit to play from the start.

Young has played a handful of minutes in just two games since losing the starting job to Dalton. He completed six of nine passes, so his return was neither mandatory nor logical despite the Carolina franchise’s poor record. However, the statement from the second-year pro quarterback serves as a warning not to downplay his presence.

What does head coach Canales think about Young?

The Panthers head coach’s opinion is important in providing clarity on the team’s quarterback situation. “Young has been an absolute crack throughout this process and has remained committed while waiting for another opportunity,” Canales said at a Wednesday press conference. Clearly, this is a window for the second-year pro to start, but for now it’s far from a formal role dispute, as even in the weeks prior there were trade rumors for Young.

What will be the Panthers’ next game with Young as the starting QB?

The Carolina Panthers will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season, with Bryce Young’s return to the starting lineup imminent. Head coach Sean Payton’s franchise has a 4-3 record and one of the lowest scoring defenses in the league.

The player in question is none other than linebacker Shaq Thompson, who suffered a serious Achilles injury during the game that ended in defeat against the Bengals. This injury is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season, dealing a significant blow to the Panthers’ defense.

The information was provided by NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who used his X (formerly Twitter) account to share further details about the situation: “Panthers standout LB Shaq Thompson, who was playing his best football, is believed to have torn his Achilles and is out for the season, sources say. He’s having an MRI today.”

This is definitely a significant loss for the team led by Dave Canales. Although they have been navigating the debate between Andy Dalton and Bryce Young for the starting QB position, they had been improving their performance compared to the first two weeks of the season.

Shaq Thompson has been a reliable presence for the Carolina Panthers this season, totaling 35 tackles and two tackles for loss in his four games. Unfortunately, his 203-game streak was cut short when he fractured his fibula in Week 2. This marks the second consecutive season in which he has faced a season-ending injury within the first month of the campaign.

A challenging path ahead for the Panthers

The 36-22 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders last week marked the beginning of an era for Andy Dalton as the starting QB, following two weeks in which Bryce Young struggled to find his footing in his NFL debut.

Although the team led by Dave Canales came very close to winning the game and matched up well against a Bengals squad led by the talented Joe Burrow, they once again fell victim to critical mistakes and ended up empty-handed, despite showing improvement compared to previous weeks.

Next week, the Panthers will face a tough matchup against the Chicago Bears, who are also experiencing their share of ups and downs. This will undoubtedly be a pivotal game for both teams in this season.

Carolina Panthers next matchups

• vs Chicago Bears, Week 5
• vs Atlanta Falcons, Week 6
• vs Washington Commanders, Week 7
• vs Denver Broncos, Week 8
• vs New Orleans Saints, Week 9

After two games this year, the Panthers made the decision to sit Bryce Young. They still have faith in the young quarterback, but the team wants him to learn from Andy Dalton before taking charge of the offense with more knowledge.

In Week 3, the Panthers faced the Las Vegas Raiders, with Andy Dalton making his debut. Surprisingly, the team won its first game of the year, and fans now have high expectations for what the veteran could do for them.

Report: Panthers set to lose a key wide receiver for several games

The Panthers are trying to figure out what to do with their offense. The team decided to bench Bryce Young for Week 3, as the former Alabama standout has been unable to meet expectations so far.

Earlier this year, Carolina signed Andy Dalton as a free agent. The team didn’t anticipate benching Bryce Young, but fortunately, they had a solid backup to fill the starting quarterback role.

In Week 3, the Panthers made the tough decision to sit Young and start Dalton against the Raiders. Dalton surprised everyone by dominating the AFC West team, but now he’s set to face a big challenge for at least the next four weeks.

NFL Media reported that the Panthers are placing Adam Thielen on injured reserve. The 34-year-old wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury while catching a touchdown during the 36-22 victory against the Raiders.

By being placed on IR, Thielen will miss at least four games. He caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown last weekend, becoming a key piece in the Panthers’ win against the Raiders.

Which games will Adam Thielen miss?

As Adam Thielen has been placed on injured reserve, he will miss at least four games. A hamstring injury typically takes 1 to 2 weeks to fully heal, but the Panthers didn’t want to take any risks by bringing him back too soon.

Thielen will miss games against the Bengals, Bears, Falcons, and Commanders. If he fully recovers by then, he could return for Week 8 when the Panthers visit the Broncos in Colorado.

Although the start of the season was not as expected, Coach Canales had often stated that Young would be his starting QB for the foreseeable future. However, it seems that two poor performances by the young QB led the coach to reconsider his decision.

Once the news was confirmed that Andy Dalton would be the starting QB in Week 3, and according to journalist Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) Young and his camp were ‘particularly shocked’ by the sudden change, with one insider commenting, ‘It came out of nowhere.’

The Panthers started this season with a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, falling 47-10. Despite expectations for a better performance in their second game, things did not improve, and they were once again defeated, this time 26-3 by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Dave Canales and the reason behind the QB change

At the start of the season, HC Canales firmly stated that Bryce Young would be his starting quarterback throughout the year. However, after two decisive losses and a lackluster performance from the former Alabama star, the coach was compelled to make a dramatic change.

Regarding this unexpected situation, and when asked about the reasons for the change, Canales told the press: “Andy gives us our best chance to win this week. Hate to sound like a broken record, I owe it to all the guys. Everybody involved needs to be really critical about what we put on film and what I’m seeing. And to make sure that I’m constantly making the best decision for the team, every week.”

“This was my decision. This is our football team. This is trying to win on a weekly basis. And while it’s my decision, I gather information from the people that are critical to making these kinds of decisions. But this is something I felt like gives us our chance to take a step forward in our play style and to be able to compete this week against a really good Raiders team.”

What’s next for the Carolina Panthers?

With the primary goal of quickly turning things around, the Carolina Panthers are turning to Andy Dalton to change their fortunes. Here are the upcoming games for Dave Canales’ squad:

• vs Las Vegas Raiders – Week 3
• vs Cincinnati Bengals – Week 4
• vs Chicago Bears – Week 5
• vs Atlanta Falcons – Week 6
• vs Washington Commanders – Week 7

According to NFL journalist Tom Pelissero via his X (formerly Twitter) account, “The #Panthers are benching former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and starting veteran Andy Dalton beginning this week.”

It is worth noting that Dave Canales had repeatedly affirmed that Bryce Young was his starting quarterback. However, the two consecutive losses, combined with the underwhelming performance of the former Alabama standout, led the coach to change his stance.

Last weekend, the Los Angeles Chargers took advantage of the Panthers’ situation and secured a decisive 26-3 victory at Bank of America Stadium. Earlier, in the debut game under Canales, the New Orleans Saints handed the Panthers a lopsided 47-10 defeat in a decidedly uneven matchup.

Andy Dalton, the chosen starter for Week 3

On the immediate horizon are the rising Las Vegas Raiders. Given the high stakes of this matchup and Bryce Young’s previous negative performances, the head coach decided to make a significant change for the upcoming game.

In the urgent quest for a crucial win in Week 3, the experienced Andy Dalton has been chosen to start as quarterback. Dalton, who served as Young’s backup in the previous two games, will now lead the team.

The veteran quarterback, who has had a long career with the Cincinnati Bengals, has been with the Carolina Panthers since 2023. For the first time this season, he will have the opportunity to start as the quarterback and showcase his talent.

Throughout his career, the quarterback—who has also played for the Saints, Cowboys, and Bears—boasts 246 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions, with a 62.5% completion rate on 5,455 attempts.