The Carolina Panthers named Andy Dalton their starting quarterback after deciding to bench Bryce Young after an 0-2 start to the season. Dalton will take over the starting job, while Young backs him up.
Read more from Newsweek Sports: Panthers Shockingly Benching Bryce Young After 2 Weeks of 2024 Season
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that Dalton gives the team the best chance to win at the moment.
Read more: Panthers HC Dave Canales Explains Decision to Bench Bryce Young
“Andy gives us our best chance moving forward,” Canales said Monday.
Canales would not say whether Dalton will start the rest of the season, but that they are preparing him for the Panthers’ Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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The decision to start the veteran quarterback came after Young continued to struggle during the first two games of his sophomore season. Young has yet to throw a touchdown pass through two games, and the offense has only scored 13 points to start the year. On Sunday, Young managed just 84 passing yards on 18 completions.
Dalton is “excited” to take over the starting position for the Panthers, an opportunity he knows doesn’t necessarily come easily. Dalton was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
“When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited about what’s ahead,” Dalton said.
Dalton, who was once benched on his birthday, of course understands that it’s a difficult situation for Young and everyone involved.
“It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s hard on everybody,” Dalton said. “But for me, I mean, I’m looking forward to it.”
The Red Rifle will look to capitalize on his second starting opportunity for the Panthers since joining the team prior to the 2023 NFL season. After beginning his career by leading the Bengals to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, Dalton slowly fell into a role as a backup quarterback.
Dalton played his final season in Cincinnati in 2019, when the Bengals went 2-11 before drafting Joe Burrow the following spring. He has since become a journeyman quarterback, but started multiple games while filling in for injured quarterbacks before joining the Panthers.
Dalton started nine games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, six games for the Chicago Bears in 2021, and 14 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2022.
With Dalton at the helm, the Panthers will look to get their first win of the season. The Saints and Los Angeles Chargers have outscored Carolina by 60 points through the first two games of the season, but the Panthers will look for better results against the 1-1 Raiders.
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