Panthers HC Daves Canales reveals starting QB between Bryce Young, Andy Dalton vs. Saints

Carolina Panthers (1-7) head coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that Bryce Young will get the start under center in this Sunday’s Week 9 home contest against the New Orleans Saints (2-6).

“Bryce will be starting this week,” Canales said, via David Newton of ESPN. “He took the reps with the ones today.”

The Panthers plan to start QB Bryce Young for the second straight week as Andy Dalton continues to rehab his right thumb. The plan is for Dalton to be available as the backup. pic.twitter.com/nuvzpakbhj

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 30, 2024

Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, will start his second consecutive game in place of Andy Dalton, who suffered a right thumb injury in a car accident in Charlotte last Tuesday. Dalton returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since the accident.

“Andy is progressing,” Canales said. “He was out there throwing and I just looked at all of the things — for me, just err on the side of caution.”

Bryce Young back in starting role for Week 9 vs. Saints

Young, benched after Week 2 in favor of Dalton, returned to the starting lineup against Denver. He completed 24-of-37 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Young and the offense’s overall performance was mired by inconsistency. Carolina gained 142 of its 284 total yards on its two scoring possessions. They gained just six first downs on the nine other drives.

“It’s inconsistency,” Canales said Monday. “We look like a good offense on the first drive, and then we just go, basically, I don’t know, was it seven or eight possessions, whatever it was before we get our next first down. Trying to find a rhythm, trying to find the run game in this against a really good defense.”

For this week, the QB1 job belongs to Young. That may change once Dalton is healthy, but for now, Young is grateful to get a chance to play again after a rocky start to his NFL career.

“Obviously, I’m grateful to play,” Young said, via the team’s official website. “I’m a competitor, of course, I want to be on the field. But again, I trust the coaching staff; they’re going to do what’s best for the team. I’m going to, no matter what my role is, I’m going to be with the best for the team and do everything I can to contribute to winning football.

“And again, the beauty of it for me through all this is like the relationship with Andy. Great, great person, we’re really close. So, we both know, regardless of whatever circumstances are, that we’re going to be there for each other.”