CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have benched 2023 No. 1 general choose Bryce Younger after the second-year quarterback’s tough begin to the season.
Andy Dalton will take over because the starter for Carolina’s subsequent sport on Sunday at Las Vegas.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales mentioned he made the choice after watching sport movie from Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
He knowledgeable each QBs of the choice on Monday after consulting with basic supervisor Dan Morgan and vp of soccer operations Brandt Tilis.
“After watching the movie and taking in all the data I really feel like Andy offers us the perfect likelihood to win,” Canales mentioned.
Canales wouldn’t say if Dalton will stay the starter past this week saying “proper now the main target is on this week.”
Canales additionally wouldn’t say precisely what led to the choice to bench Younger.
“I don’t wish to get into the specifics as these are non-public conversations,” Canales mentioned.
Canales had labored with Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, serving to flip their careers round. He was employed partly to get essentially the most out of Younger, who struggled final season as a rookie with practically as many interceptions (10 ) as landing passes (11).
However Younger’s struggles as a rookie have carried over to this yr.
He’s accomplished simply 31 of 56 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions because the Panthers have began 0-2 this season for the second straight yr and have been outscored 73-13 by the New Orleans Saints and Chargers. Younger has run for one landing, the one one of many season for Carolina.
When requested if Younger nonetheless has the help of the locker room, Canales mentioned “that’s a loaded query. Proper now our focus is to guarantee that we repair the movie from yesterday and prepare for the Raiders.”
Younger is 2-16 as a starter general because the Panthers traded up eight spots within the 2023 NFL draft to get him.
The Panthers made a big funding in that take care of Chicago, sending huge receiver D.J. Moore and 4 draft picks to the Bears — certainly one of which turned out to be the No. 1 general choose on this yr’s draft after the Panthers completed a league-worst 2-15 final season. The Bears used that choose to take quarterback Caleb Williams.
Younger turns into the primary quarterback chosen No. 1 general within the widespread draft period beginning in 1967 to be benched for non-injury causes in his second season.
He hasn’t appeared very similar to a No. 1 general choose since his arrival, frequently trying flustered within the pocket and infrequently making poor selections and throwing into double protection. His first throw this season was an interception towards the Saints within the opener and issues solely appear to have gotten worse.
Younger was booed repeatedly by the house crowd on Sunday after the offense stalled time and time once more.
Carolina was 1 of 12 on third down conversions and the Panthers have been outgained 349-159.
When requested about his confidence after the sport, Younger mentioned, “I draw my confidence from the Lord. I’m very blessed. I’m grateful for this problem. Not an excellent begin, however God does all the things for a purpose. I place confidence in that.”
Younger mentioned he wanted to do a greater job together with his decision-making.
“You all the time wish to make a play. You wish to do one thing,” Younger mentioned. “Clearly, a part of the place is being the sport supervisor. Some unhealthy cases of that on movie in the present day. I undoubtedly take accountability for that.”
Dalton is 83-78-2 as a beginning quarterback within the NFL, together with one final season with the Panthers. He has thrown 246 landing passes and 144 interceptions since coming into the league in 2011 with Cincinnati.
Dalton mentioned Monday he was stunned by the transfer, however is happy concerning the alternative to start out once more within the NFL.
“After I got here right here, I wasn’t certain if I used to be going to get one other alternative, and so I’m actually trying ahead to it,” mentioned Dalton, who missed a portion of coaching camp with a quad damage. “I’m enthusiastic about what’s forward. And, you recognize, it’s a troublesome state of affairs. I’ve been on either side of it, and it’s onerous. I imply, it’s onerous on everyone, however for me, I imply, I’m trying ahead to it.”
Panthers tight finish Tommy Tremble mentioned he nonetheless feels Younger is a superb quarterback and mentioned the blame shouldn’t fall all on the QB’s shoulders.
“We haven’t completed the perfect (as teammates) to assist him present his capability,” Tremble mentioned. “I’ve seen the flashes and what he does each day in follow. I believe simply collectively as a bunch I really feel unhealthy that we couldn’t present that on Sundays.”
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