QB Bryce Young benched for Andy Dalton after bleak start to Carolina Panthers’ season

Dave Canales has seen enough.

The first-year head coach of the Carolina Panthers, after an 0-2 start that saw his team be outscored a league-worst 73-13, has elected to bench starting quarterback Bryce Young ahead of his team’s Week 3 contest, a league source has confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.

Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will start Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second-year quarterback’s stead. Tom Peliserro of NFL Network was first with the news.

The news comes after a difficult start to Young’s second season with the Panthers. That tough start was highlighted by Week 2’s struggles, which included Young throwing a career-worst 84 yards and one interception for a quarterback rating of 57.2, up from his career-low 32.8 rating in Week 1.

The quarterback was drafted No. 1 overall by the Panthers in 2023 — a move made possible by a blockbuster trade in March 2023 that carried a ton of draft capital and team playmakers away from Carolina.

The Panthers’ front office was hopeful that Young’s arrival at Carolina could spawn hope and creativity and could solve the quarterback problem that plagued the winless years of former head coach Matt Rhule. Owner David Tepper, on draft night, told a crowd of the most loyal Panthers fans that drafting Young would lead to “Super Bowls,” a comment that sent the fan base into a frenzy.

Young’s arrival didn’t pay immediate dividends, though. As a rookie he went 2-14 — missing one game due to an ankle injury — and notched nearly as many interceptions (10) as passing touchdowns (11). He saw the coach who was brought in to guide him (Frank Reich) fired midseason; the general manager who drafted him (Scott Fitterer) was fired after the final game.

Canales was then hired, in large part, to assist Young, what with his history of rejuvenating quarterbacks in Seattle as an offensive assistant coach and Tampa Bay as offensive coordinator.

The benching isn’t necessarily the end for Young and his time in Carolina. When asked after the game Sunday, Canales reiterated that Young is the furute of the team: “Bryce is our quarterback.”

Dalton was drafted in the 2011 season and prior to Carolina was a starter for a number of teams, most notably the Cincinnati Bengals.

This story will be updated.