The Carolina Panthers will turn back to their 2023 first-round draft pick, Bryce Young, as the starting quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. This comes after veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton sustained a thumb injury in a car accident earlier this week.
“We are excited for Bryce to have another opportunity to get in there and play some football,” said Panthers head coach Dave Canales during a press conference on Wednesday. The coach praised Young’s handling of his earlier benching, calling him “an absolute stud” who has remained engaged with the team despite the disappointment.
Young, the former standout at Alabama, was the Panthers’ top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, his rocky start to the season led Canales to replace him with the more experienced Dalton after just two games.
Now, as the 1-6 Panthers travel to Denver, Young will assume control of the offense while Dalton recovers from a sprained right thumb from a Tuesday car accident.
“He has been involved in what we were doing and is excited about the opportunity,” Canales said of Young. “I’m inspired for him to get another chance and play football.”
The 23-year-old Young acknowledged the “struggles” he faced after being demoted but said he leaned on his faith and support system to get through the challenging time.
“I had to lean on my faith, lean on the people in this locker room, and lean on family,” Young told reporters. “There is stuff that is out of my control, stuff that will go well in life, and stuff that won’t. But there are a lot of things in my life that I’m super grateful for, and through good and bad, I want to focus on that outside of football.”
Dalton, 36, had initially provided a spark for the Panthers after taking over as the starter. He led the team to a Week 3 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. However, his play has since declined, and the Panthers have lost their last four games.
Now, with Dalton sidelined, Young will get another chance to prove he can be Carolina’s long-term solution at quarterback. He’ll face a stiff test against the Broncos, who boast one of the NFL’s most formidable defenses.
“The expectation for Bryce is: Just do your part,” Canales said. “Do your 1/11th. Get us to the right runs; get us to the right passes and the protections and all that.”
Young’s teammates have rallied around him, with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney offering words of encouragement and reminding the young QB that he was the top overall pick for a reason.
“He was saucing us up out there,” Clowney said of Young’s work on the scout team in recent weeks. “He was throwing dimes in practice.”
As the Panthers search for their second win of the season, all eyes will be on Bryce Young as he looks to recapture the promise that made him a top draft choice. The former Heisman Trophy winner now has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to shine.