The Carolina Panthers are benching former first overall pick Bryce Young and going with veteran Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback, coach Dave Canales said Monday.
The decision to bench Young was made by Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tillis, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team was informed of the move during position meetings, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Andy gives us our best chance moving forward,” Canales said, adding that Young will serve as the backup to Dalton against the Raiders.
Young had a historically bad day in Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, passing for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth fewest in team history for a quarterback with at least 25 pass attempts.
He became the third player in the past 20 seasons to average 4 or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two starts this season.
After the game, Canales, without hesitation, said Young would be the starter heading into the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Those plans have changed.
“This is something after I watched the film,” Canales said Monday. “I looked at it, had a thought and started on talking to the guys that we make decisions with. Certainly a lot of parties involved there, and ultimately this comes on me. My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win and so this move puts us in the best chance to do that.”
The Panthers are off to an 0-2 start for the second straight season and fifth time in the past six. They’ve been outscored 72-13 by the Chargers and New Orleans Saints.
Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, is 2-16 as the 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 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 while Young was out 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, including one last season with the Panthers. He has thrown 246 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions since coming into the league in 2011 with Cincinnati.
ESPN’s David Newton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.