CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Andy Dalton met with Charlotte media Monday afternoon on his first day as the starting quarterback, the 36-year-old could barely contain his enthusiasm. It was the type of energy and passion the Carolina Panthers hoped to see more of from Bryce Young.
“I’m just thankful for an opportunity. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna get it again,” said Dalton, the former Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals. “So for me, I’m fired up. I’m pumped. I’m getting a chance to do what I’ve done my whole career.”
The Panthers made a seismic move Monday by benching Young, whom they drafted No. 1 last year after trading two first-round selections, two seconds and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the pick. The announcement came less than 24 hours after first-year coach Dave Canales said, “Bryce is our quarterback,” when asked whether Young would remain the starter.
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Canales apparently had an epiphany after watching film of Young’s performance during a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, statistically the worst of Young’s short career. Canales spoke with general manager Dan Morgan, executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis and a couple of his assistant coaches.
Asked what role owner David Tepper played, Canales said he wanted to keep that private. But Tepper has said he’s consulted on big decisions; benching last year’s No. 1 pick two games into his second season would qualify.
“Certainly a lot of parties involved there. Ultimately, this comes on me. And my No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win,” Canales said. “So this move I believe puts us in the best chance to do that.”
Forget winning, the Panthers weren’t even competitive in their first two games under Canales, losing by a combined 60 points to the New Orleans Saints and Chargers. Young’s numbers were abysmal: no touchdown passes, three interceptions and an NFL-worst 44.1 passer rating.
Andy Dalton excited for opportunity but adds hard situation for all. pic.twitter.com/8fBgv5K1iU
— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 16, 2024
Young’s EPA (expected points added) rate per dropback was the worst of his career Sunday, when he threw for a career-low 84 yards and didn’t complete a pass longer than 12 yards. He barely tried any that long.
And after he threw a first-half interception in the middle of the field (same as last week) in the second quarter, Young’s shoulders sagged and his body language was suspect the rest of the game. Young, elected as a captain for the first time two weeks ago, is the anti-Cam in terms of energy. That’s not his personality and it’s not the reason he was benched.
But if you listened closely to Canales’ news conference Monday, in between his “best decision for the team” nonanswers was an allusion to what’s often referred to as juice in NFL locker rooms.
“I owe it to all the guys — the coaches, the staff, the players, everybody involved — to be really critical about what we put on film, about what I’m seeing and to make sure I’m constantly making the best decision for the team every week. It happens to be the quarterback position, so it’s loaded that way,” Canales said.
“But it’s every position. It’s all the guys. I was able to stand in front of the team and challenge all the guys that we all have to step up our passion for what we’re doing to play with the play style that we’re looking for.”
Canales comes from the Pete Carroll’s coaching tree, which oozes energy the way a maple does sap. And if you’ve watched any of Canales’ news conferences (excluding Monday’s) or seen video of him jogging on to the practice field in his “smedium” dri-fits, you know he’s all about positive mojo.
“It’s about building a culture. It’s about building a football team that plays with a certain play style,” he said. “And that’s my main focus.”
It’s also about accountability. And if Canales continued to accept subpar quarterback play, he was inviting locker room disharmony and more episodes like Adam Thielen’s sideline tantrum.
Benching the would-be franchise QB after 18 starts got the attention of everyone on a team that has looked slow and disinterested while getting its door blown in the first two weeks.
“It lets everybody know that anything can happen,” linebacker Josey Jewell said. “And if you’re not playing good enough or up to somebody’s standards or with enough energy, everybody’s replaceable.”
When talking with reporters, Canales never framed the QB switch as temporary or a mental break for the 23-year-old Young.
The Panthers’ best passing day last season came in Seattle (in Week 3, coincidentally) when Dalton started in place of the injured Young. If Dalton plays well, Young’s time in Charlotte could be through. He would join a long list of QBs the Panthers have cycled through since Tepper bought the team, a couple of whom (Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold) have found success elsewhere.
There’s no question the Panthers failed Young, especially during a chaotic rookie season that included a midseason coaching change and repeated flip-flopping at the offensive play caller spot. Young also was battered behind a turnstile offensive line to the tune of 62 sacks and had receivers who couldn’t get open.
Last year appeared to leave a mark on the 5-foot-10 Young, whose footwork and route progressions have regressed this year despite better protection of a rebuilt line. The receiving corps still lacks a true No. 1.
The way Young was playing, this move felt inevitable, though I would have pegged it around Week 4 or 5. Instead it came 508 days after the Panthers took Young ahead of C.J. Stroud with the first pick in the 2023 draft.
And though Dalton was pumped about his promotion Monday, he also felt bad about Young’s demotion. But Dalton also is confident the former Alabama quarterback will be OK, wherever and whatever that looks like.
“He’s made up the right way. Who knows what’s gonna happen?” Dalton said. “But for him, I know he’s got the right character traits to know what he believes in. And that’s gonna carry him far beyond this right now.”
(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
