Panthers bench former No. 1 pick for Andy Dalton

Bryce Young will take a break.

The Carolina Panthers have benched the first-round pick of the 2023 draft in favor of experienced backup Andy Dalton.

“Andy gives us the best chance to win right now,” said new head coach Dave Canales in a press conference on Monday afternoon. “I'm happy for Andy.”

Canales informed Young and Dalton of the roster change on Monday morning, but would not publicly commit to using Dalton as a starter beyond Week 3.

It's been a rocky season for the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, who hasn't lived up to his draft expectations for a variety of reasons. In Young's 18 pro starts, Carolina has lost 16 times. On a personal level, Young has completed less than 60% of his passes with a 70.9 passer rating. He's accounted for 12 touchdowns and 19 turnovers and often looks uncomfortable on the field. His ability to process and play off of sequences, which was perhaps his greatest asset before the draft – and a supposed compensation for his diminutive stature (5-10, 204) – has yet to bear fruit in the pros.

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