In a surprising move, the Carolina Panthers have decided to bench Bryce Young, their 2023 No. 1 pick, for their upcoming Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. According to a league source, the Panthers will now turn to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton as their new starter.

The decision to bench Young comes in the wake of the Panthers' back-to-back blowout losses to start the season, including a disappointing 26-3 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Despite completing 18 of 26 passes, Young struggled to make effective plays, garnering only 84 yards through the air. This marked one of the lowest passing totals in franchise history for a quarterback with at least 25 pass attempts.

Panthers coach Dave Canales revealed that the choice to bench Young was made after careful analysis of the team's performance on Sunday. Canales met with various decision-makers before arriving at the final decision, but declined to disclose the role of Panthers owner David Tepper in the process.

Canales accepted full responsibility for the move, stating, "My number one responsibility is to help the Panthers win. This move puts us in the best position to do that this week." It's worth noting that Canales' statement directly contradicts his earlier remark after Sunday's game when he declared Bryce Young as the team's quarterback.

As the Panthers look to turn their season around after a disheartening start, Andy Dalton will step in as the new starting quarterback. Dalton, a three-time Pro Bowler with 14 seasons of NFL experience, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, acknowledging the challenging circumstances. Dalton previously started for the Panthers in Week 3 of the 2023 season when Young was sidelined with an ankle injury, throwing for an impressive 361 yards.

The decision to replace Young with Dalton was heavily influenced by Young's lackluster performance throughout his rookie season and into the first two games of this season. Despite offseason efforts to improve the offensive line and provide Young with more playmakers, he has struggled to find success, throwing no touchdowns, three interceptions, and compiling just 245 passing yards in two games.

Moreover, Young's underwhelming performances have begun to take a toll on team morale and fan support. During the recent game against the Chargers, fans openly expressed their dissatisfaction, booing Young and calling for owner David Tepper to sell the team.

With Dalton at the helm, the Panthers hope to stabilize their offense and provide Young with an opportunity to observe a seasoned quarterback in action. Dalton brings a wealth of experience and a respectable track record, having served as a starter for the New Orleans Saints in 2022. While the Saints finished with a 6-8 record during Dalton's tenure, he demonstrated an EPA per dropback rate of 0.02 and a passer rating of 95.2.

The Carolina Panthers are now focused on bouncing back from their disappointing start to the season as they face the Las Vegas Raiders. Avoiding a second consecutive 0-3 start will be crucial for the team, and with Andy Dalton leading the charge, they aim to bring about a much-needed turnaround.

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