A former Alabama All-American quarterback is expected to reclaim the starting role this season.
However, the day after Andy Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina coach Dave Canales stated on Monday, “Andy’s our quarterback. He gives us our best chance to win. That’s the approach as we prepare for the Bengals.” This was just eight days after he had declared, “Bryce Young is our quarterback.”
In his first two games of the season, Young passed for 245 yards and extended his streak to 108 attempts without a touchdown.
Just shy of the one-year anniversary of his last start, Dalton became the first quarterback of the NFL’s 2024 season to achieve a 300-yard, three-touchdown game, a feat that Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow matched on Monday night.
Canales praised Young for his performance as a backup in the NFL, noting that since being drafted first overall in 2023, Young has started 18 games and missed one due to an ankle injury.
“He was consistent in his leadership,” Canales said, highlighting Young’s ability to connect with teammates and leverage his experiences to benefit the team.
Carolina center Austin Corbett mentioned that Young would gain valuable insights from observing Dalton.
“He’s handled this incredibly,” Corbett said on Monday. “It’s a tough situation, and it’s not what you envision when dreaming of the NFL. But he’s stayed focused during protection meetings and practices, leading the scout team and actively engaging with us on the sidelines. He treats it all as normal, which speaks volumes about Bryce’s character and his desire to grow as a competitor.”
“Bryce can get the job done. He’ll learn a lot from watching Andy, and it will be beneficial for him. He’ll enjoy it when his time comes.”
The Panthers are set to face Cincinnati at noon CDT on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
