Year 2 of Bryce Young‘s NFL career took an unwanted turn yesterday with the Panthers electing to bench him in favor of Andy Dalton. Last year’s No. 1 pick now faces an unknown timeline to return to the field. 
Young was caught off guard by head coach Dave Canales‘ decision to insert Dalton into the lineup, ESPN’s David Newton reports. The 23-year-old started all but one game (due to injury) during his rookie campaign, one in which he and Carolina’s offense struggled immensely. A step forward with Canales in the fold, along with new investments up front and at the skill positions, was expected for 2024.
Instead, Young’s showings during the first two games of the season – blowout losses to the Saints and Chargers – remained underwhelming. He has totaled 245 scoreless passing yards to date this season while throwing three interceptions. In spite of those figures, Newton’s colleague Jeremy Fowler notes there was “some surprise” in the Panthers’ organization based on how early the QB change was made. Dalton will aim to provide the team with more stability under center amidst questions on the decision to bench Young for an unspecified period.
“I owe it to all the guys — the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody involved — to be really critical about what we put on film, about what I’m seeing and to make sure I’m constantly making the best decision for the team every week,” Canales said when addressing the decision, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). It happens to be the quarterback position, so it’s loaded that way.
“But it’s every position. It’s all the guys. I was able to stand in front of the team and challenge all the guys that we all have to step up our passion for what we’re doing to play with the play style that we’re looking for.”
Canales endorsed Young as the Panthers’ starter in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s loss, but he consulted with other members of the coaching and front office staff upon watching the film from that contest. As Person notes, Canales did not specify how large of a role owner David Tepper (who has a reputation for meddling) played in the decision to bench Young, adding it was ultimately his call to make. Canales is in his first year as a head coach, and his hiring was based in large part on his success in working with Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. The development process for Young will include time on the sidelines moving forward.
Person adds Canales never discussed Young’s benching as a temporary move aimed at giving him a temporary reset. Dalton could be in place atop the depth chart for a notable stretch as a result. The 36-year-old made just one start last year when filling in for an injure Young, but he is a veteran of 170 games. Dalton is also a pending free agent, so a strong showing (relative to the potential in Carolina’s offense) could help his market value. A step forward on offense would no doubt be welcomed by all parties in the Panthers’ organization, even with Young’s future now even more of a question mark than it was following the 2023 campaign.
For now, at least, more competition at the quarterback spot will not be forthcoming. Canales said (via Newton) the team will not be making an addition under center, meaning Young will handle backup duties beginning in Week 3. When he next sees the field – and how the organization proceeds with him on a long-term scale – will be storylines worth following closely.
I anticipated his benching and I’m a Bills fan ♂️ surprised he didn’t get benched last year. He might be the worst QB starting
I’ve seen worse quarterbacks destroyed behind what is probably the most putrid offensive line in NFL history.
The Bears offensive line is worse than the Panthers line.
No it’s not… it’s just another excuse that Bears fans use to try to cover the stench coming from that QB room.
Ain’t no bigger stench of a QB room last 40 years than the Jets
truth
I can certainly understand why Young didn’t anticipate his benching. The franchise invested a ton in him. He’s a young guy, and I’m sure he’s genuinely trying to play well while also learning. He doesn’t have a ton of talent around him, either.
I definitely understand why Canales benched him, and it’s probably the right call if you’re Canales. As crazy as it sounds when talking about a first year HC, with that awful ownership, the guy has to be concerned with his job security.
The problems in Carolina start at the very top, though. They have an impulsive, meddling clown as an owner. Tepper is a terrible human being. It’s hard for anyone in any position to be successful when that is the guy steering the ship. Being real, unless he sells the team, Carolina isn’t fixable.
I agree with most of this, but Canales giving up on the kid when the primary reason he was hired was because of his success with QBs, is kind of a head scratcher… Unless of course, Tepper made the call, not Canales..
I’d bet Tepper made the call. Canales’ ego likely wouldn’t let him allow Young to fail.
If Tepper made the call, he was absolutely correct this time. Young has continuously made poor decisions. Against the Chargers he took a sack rather than throwing the ball away when he was outside of the tackles on the sideline. This took them out of field goal range. Young missed open receivers on throws or simply didn’t throw the ball to receivers who were open. He was panicky at times and didn’t wait for routes to develop. Averaging 3.2 yards per pass does not cut it in the NFL. A record of 2-16 does not cut it. Despite being given every opportunity due to draft status, eventually continued game participation comes down to performance. Young simply did not get the job done, and he should not be stunned that he has been benched. Hopefully, Young will benefit from watching on the sidelines. I wish Mr. Young nothing but the best. However, this is a team game and the Panthers need to evaluate how the offense performs under Dalton versus Young.
If the argument is that Young will benefit from learning on the bench, then it is valid reason. But imho, this is like Fields and Mac Jones. For better or worse, it might be time to throw him to the wolves. If you keep him on the bench for too long, then you have no insight into the 2025 draft.
Justsaying, I don’t think that Young has played well either, but I don’t get how the blame could be fostered onto him here. How many QBs have been even average since Tepper took over in Carolina? Mayfield, Darnold, Walker, Grier, Bridgewater, Allen…all were bad. A few may have a spot or two here and there, but most of them at least learned to be a pro quarterback or had their formative years somewhere else before coming to Carolina. And, most importantly, while the rosters weren’t good then, they still mostly had better offensive weapons. This roster is overall the worst that Carolina has had, other than last year’s, when Young first started. I don’t know how Young was supposed to be given a chance at all here, or how he could be blamed for mismanagement by those who should have known better.
I mean, I agree that benching Young is the correct decision, but I disagree that the credentials that you cited should be held against him more than the team. And I’m very curious, given the universally accepted identification of Carolina’s mismanagement, what the definition of “every opportunity” should mean in this case.
Best thing for him is to sit. He had a skill set that hasn’t and possibly may never transfer to the NFL but maybe he needs to sit behind someone for a year or two that’s worked many many times. Used to be the rule not the exception. I’m making no predictions he looked really bad but no way I’d be moving him yet and there’s no reason too anyway he has no value and he’s super cheap
“I’M DUE !!!”
I anticipated his bench from the moment he was drafted number 1 overall last year.
I’ll just keep saying this…
Never draft a jockey to be your QB.
Sure, once or twice a decade a Brees or peak Russel Wilson will come along…let someone else try to beat those odds while you draft 6’3 to 6’5 QB’s.
even WWE understands this. ain’t no under 6 ft Universal or Heavyweight Champs. Maybe Eddie Guerrero but that was decades ago.
I guess you haven’t heard of Rey Mysterio Jr.
Antonio Rocco
Daniel Bryan has entered the chat
5’10 is a jockey now? Woof.
Tank for Shadeur begins lmao
Shedeur Sanders won’t go 1st overall, unless some GM or owner becomes so enamored by the name value that they throw logic out the window.
So maybe if Carolina “wins” the tank, yeah. Lol I do wonder if Deion would see that mess there though and try his best to keep Shedeur out of there? With the NIL money, no point going pro if Carolina is your future.
Sanders will not have the numbers to go in round 1. His dad will be exposed again as the fraud he is. I anticipate Deon will try to weasel his way into whatever team drafts one of his kids. Probably Shadeur. I don’t want either of them anywhere close to Seattle. Eventually Deon goes back to an HBCU so he can bring in kids that are D1 because of his name. When you have much better talent you can suck as a coach and still win.
I mostly agree with you, Proton, although I could see a team spending a very late 1st round selection on him to get the fifth year option. Way too far away to imagine how we get there, but I am thinking maybe Dallas or Jets, to have him as a backup QB.
I could see that happening too. He probably does have potential. My dislike for his overrated arrogant dad colors my judgement. Yes he could cover yes he was fast and yes he would run away from a hit instead of giving one. Only time there was a hard hit was when the off player would initiate contact. If you could get the kid away from the dad he might have promise.
He would be an upgrade in Carolina probably in Seattle too. Just need to get his dad out of his life. He will have too much time on his hands after he gets fired when every player he has recruited for next year and the good ones he has on the team now transfer or change schools. He also will not have anyone transfer in. That is when they lose most of their games and players realize no bowl games. Deon is shown as the fraud of a coach he is.
Than tank for Beck or Ewers or Ward? Panthers will pick top 4 next year I’d gladly wager the over under lmao
It’d be the wrong decision right now, in my mind. Even though Carolina has a much GM now in Morgan versus Fitterer, the environment hasn’t changed. Carolina should use Young’s rookie deal to build the team into something credible and, for once, give their coach time to see if he is the guy. Canales doesn’t look great to me so far, but it’s only been two games with a mess of a roster. If in the next two or three years either he or Young steps up, it’ll he great for Carolina. If not, they could use their cheap QB deal and high picks to add some talent to the roster so that it’s not a trainwreck again when they have a chance to pick a quarterback.
Hmmmm
Neon Deion can come along to be the new head coach!
There are worse jobs than being a highly-paid BU QB for a decade or so.
My wife has compiled an impressive list that begins with me driving her to the Bed Bath & Beyond store for an exercise in shopping torture.
I’d rather have Maxx Crosby chasing me behind the line in a tie game with two minutes left. Fractures can heal, but BB&B will never heal.
This is the right choice-for Young.
We’ll see how many games this lasts, but there’s no point in throwing a young player who never had a chance to learn anything useful (let alone in a stable environment) out with a roster that can’t do much to help. The defense is even worse talent-wise than it was last year, and the line hasn’t played well enough to protect a quarterback who doesn’t know how to make it work. Dalton will give Carolina more chances due to his veteran experience and long history of starting, but there’s no quarterback who can make this offense good right now.
Carolina can start Dalton all they want, but Canales is really going to have to get better calling plays. There’s not really a young player that break out and do enough on his own to save the season (not even the quarterback), so the only thing that Carolina can hope for is that the coach can elevate the team himself. For a coach who was hire based on his scheming, like Canales, that means that his playcalling needs to be what elevates the offense. Unfortunately, by my own very unqualified evaluation, it’s been questionable at best. Canales needs to get better, because his team doesn’t appear that it will on its own.
Well, we knew he needed to work on his anticipation.
Da dum tiiish
Someone has been peeking into the NYJ Rookie QB Manual
Bryce will be back in their soon. Dalton will get injured and the saga will continue
You spend your future to draft a mini me QB that was not great anyway this all is expected. Carolina is a joke. I feel bad for the fans. Not too bad though a lot of talk before we beat them every year. This was a QB I did not think would be a good NFL QB. Carolina might cut him before they have a 1st rnd pick again.
If I were another GM, I’d be thrilled to deal with Carolina. Just wait for Tepper to make an amateur decision.
They traded for the #1, and I am convinced that they were never sure who they liked at that pick. That’s a recipe for disaster. It was like ‘just trade for the #1 pick, and then we’ll decide who we like on draft day’.
I agree completely. It’s something that I’ve said before that I hate, but that I know teams will do forevermore-getting a quarterback just because they “need a quarterback”, and not because that player was actually the right pick for them at the time.
It’s obviously early, but I was and still am very happy my Raiders didn’t chase a QB outside of the Big 3. Just because you need something doesn’t mean that should be your sole focus.
Agreed.
Anticipate Caleb Williams benching too. He’s not an elite talent.
Many QBs are elite talents in their 2 career games right?
They didn’t anticipate him being this bad
Personally I think Bryce Young is fixable but it’s gonna take A LOT to make it work.
He’s clearly not a guy who can run a traditional offense but going back to his college days he was successful doing the following
RPOs
Movement before the play
Play actions
Rolls outs
Idk why Reich or Canales haven’t created the offense towards what Young does best which is short medium throws that are created from pre snap movement or disguising routes in bunch formations etc etc.
Young’s never going to be elite but definitely think he can be better than what he’s shown so far (not like that’s a high bar).
I said the same thing about Fields when he started. They tried making him a pocket passer, and that is not his skill-set.
You can save a lot of money with quarterbacks who throw short to medium throws.
Awareness -1
Sooo Diontae Johnson’s next long-term contract. Lol.
Deion loved HBCUs until his own people stole from him. Then he darted faster than he can spell Colorado.
Just watched the PFF podcast and their analysis shows that Young has become afraid to throw the ball – even with a clean pocket. His receiving corps isn’t the best, but but it isn’t the worst either. Putting Dalton under center will certainly identify whether Young is the problem.
Okay, now for the real question-Is Young on the trading block?
As they say in fantasy BB, and abundance of patience is just as dangerous as a lack of patience. Fields went from being worth a low-1, to a low-2, to a low-3, to a 4th/6th rounder.
So would someone trade a low-1 for what might be 3 years of Young? For example, my Raiders will likely draft in the 18-20 range. Is Young worth a #18-20? Or will Tepper hold onto him just so as not to admit a mistake?
Nobody is giving a 1 for Young.
Im not sure what the value is, but that is really high.
Maybe not a 1, but it’s a good deal to get three years of a former number one quarterback for a second if your staff can actually coach him well and put a decent team around him. I don’t think that Young has put a good enough showing out there to convince anybody that he could be a for sure starter, though. Whomever acquiring him would be doing so to take a chance that they could develop him and give him a decent shot, and it’d be highly surprising if they did so without another QB to compete with him. A Day Two pick seems more likely in that scenario.
I’ve always been amazed how position coaches are typically former players EXCEPT for QBs.
I not saying hire Cam to work with Young (for obvious reasons) but if you’re doing taking GB’s approach (ffs Love had minimal college experience but sat behind AR and learned) then bring in former players even if they’re just “consultant” labeled
Having a statistician as “QB Coach” can work of course but the difference is tangible
“… not taking GB’s approach …”
They could have drafted stroud who’s 6’2 225 instead they draft 5’10 and barely over 200 lbs
Who’s a complete flop
Shoulda woulda coulda
Why surprised…..you don’t produce then you sit. I don’t blame him ..I blame the owner. Like Jerry Jones he changes coaches like he changes his underwear…kid needs stability at the coaching end….then he will be ok
If he’s listed @5’10 then he’s shorter than that. Teams always blow-up heights n weights especially when player is very short or has slight body build. So far Young doesn’t pass the eye test.
Draft your line before you draft your franchise QB.
It’s that simple, Carolina and Chicago.
No pocket passer learns running for their life.
If you want to do this backwards, draft Lamar, Tyler, or Mike Vick.