The Carolina Panthers made it official Friday: Andy Dalton gets the nod at quarterback for Sunday’s clash with the Buffalo Bills, while rookie Bryce Young sits out with a doubtful designation thanks to an ankle injury.
Young Battling High Ankle Sprain
Young picked up a high ankle sprain in his right leg during last week’s win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The third-year signal-caller hasn’t taken a single practice snap over the past three days because of the injury. League sources had already indicated earlier this week that Young would likely miss at least one game.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t sugarcoat the situation when asked about Young’s chances of playing without practice time. \”That would be really challenging,\” Canales said Friday. \”Bryce and I have been working together to evaluate his status each day. We need to stay smart about this and take things one day at a time to see if he can get back out there and keep moving forward.\”
Dalton Steps Into Familiar Role
Dalton, who signed with Carolina in 2023, will make his 169th career start and seventh as a Panther this Sunday. His track record as Carolina’s starter stands at 1-5, which includes a 1-4 record from last season plus that tough loss in Seattle. This year, Dalton has connected on 9 of 13 attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Behind Dalton on the depth chart sits Hendon Hooker, who’s spent the entire season on the practice squad. The Panthers bolstered their quarterback room by bringing veteran Mike White onto their practice squad Tuesday. White brings four years of NFL experience from stints with the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins.
Panthers Riding High
Carolina heads into this weekend’s showdown sporting a 4-3 record and riding a three-game winning streak—their longest hot streak since opening the 2021 campaign with three consecutive victories. The Panthers haven’t been above .500 this deep into a season since 2019, representing a significant shift in fortune.
Inside Look at Young’s Status Against Buffalo
Nobody in the Panthers building really expected Young to suit up against Buffalo once word of his high ankle sprain got out. But Young wanted to \”push this thing\” and try to speed up his recovery timeline, which the team respected by at least giving him a shot. Carolina might have also wanted to keep Buffalo guessing about their starting quarterback, though Bills head coach Sean McDermott and his coaching staff reportedly game-planned as if Dalton would get the start, especially since Young didn’t log any practice snaps all week.— Joe Person, Panthers beat writer
What’s Next for Young
After Young’s MRI results came back Monday, the team’s best-case scenario was him missing just one game. Coach Canales mentioned that Young made solid gains in his rehab and strengthening work throughout the week, which looks promising for his potential return in Week 9 at Green Bay.
That said, Panthers brass keeps stressing that Young’s long-term health comes first, and pushing him back too quickly would be counterproductive. With Dalton’s veteran presence, Carolina feels comfortable letting him handle Sunday’s start regardless of Young’s condition. Team officials confirmed Dalton will start no matter what happens with Young’s status. Given that certainty, some observers think Carolina could have just listed Young as out instead of doubtful.— Joseph Person
