After 18 starts, Bryce Young is getting benched.
The Panthers (0-2) will sit the 2023 No. 1 overall pick for Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Las Vegas, with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton set to start, multiple reports said Monday.
The shocking news came after first-year head coach Dave Canales said following Sunday’s 26-3 home loss to the Chargers that “Bryce is our quarterback.”
“This is something after I watched the film, I looked at it, had a thought, started working on talking to the guys that we make decisions with. Certainly a lot of parties involved there,” Canales told reporters Monday. “Ultimately this comes on me, and my No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win. And so this move, I believe, puts us in the best chance to do that this week.
Carolina has played horribly in its two losses to open the season, which included a 47-10 drubbing by the Saints in Week 1.
Young, 23, was 18-for-26 with just 84 yards passing and an interception against the Chargers.
He was 13-for-30 with 161 yards and two interceptions against the Saints and has yet to throw a touchdown.
The Panthers are 2-16 in Young’s starts over the 2021 Heisman winner’s first season-plus and he finished his rookie season with 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but his teammates have his back.
“I love that kid,” veteran receiver Adam Thielen said after Sunday’s loss, per ESPN. “He works his butt off. It’s too early in the season to be talking about all that. We need to be better around him, to give him confidence and trust in what we’re doing.”
Fellow receiver Diontae Johnson also said there was “no doubt, no question” that Young gives the team the best chance of winning.
Carolina traded up in 2023 to take Young No. 1 overall, giving the Bears that year’s No. 9 overall pick and a 2023 second-rounder, a 2024 first-rounder (which the Bears used to take quarterback Caleb Williams), a 2025 second-rounder and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Dalton, 36, made one start for the Panthers last season when Young was out with an ankle injury.
The longtime Bengals QB and three-time Pro Bowler made 14 starts for the Saints in 2022 and had one-year stints with the Cowboys and Bears.