The Carolina Panthers have decided to bench 2023 No 1 overall pick Bryce Young after the second-year quarterback’s rough start to the season, according to a team source.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales is expected to address the situation later on Monday.
Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton is expected to take over as the starter.
Young has completed just 31 of 56 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions as the Panthers have started 0-2 this season and been outscored 73-13 by the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers. Young has run for one touchdown, the only one of the season for Carolina. In Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Chargers, Young threw for just 84 yards.
Young is 2-16 as a starter since the Panthers traded up eight spots in the NFL draft in 2023 to get him. The Panthers made a significant investment in that deal 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 this year’s draft after the Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 last season. There were concerns over his height before he was drafted – at 5ft 10in he is far smaller than the average NFL quarterback – but he also came to a team overseen by the chaotic ownership of David Tepper. To make matters more jarring, the quarterback drafted behind Young in 2023, CJ Stroud, was the offensive rookie of the year last season and led the Houston Texans to the playoffs. The Panthers still owe their 2025 second round pick to the Bears as part of the Young trade.
The 36-year-old Dalton started one game for the Panthers last season when Young was injured, throwing two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
