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The Tuscaloosa News
Former Alabama football QB Bryce Young benched by Carolina Panthers
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Former Alabama football QB Bryce Young benched by Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are benching second-year quarterback Bryce Young following a disappointing start to the 2024 NFL season.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported the move on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, one day after first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales said he would stick with the former first-overall pick. Andy Dalton is expected to be named the starter in Carolina, which has been outscored 73-13 through the first two weeks of the season.
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Canales confirmed the move during his Monday press conference.
"[We] made that decision after looking at it, that this is the best decision for our group and our team going forward," Canales said.
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Young, 23, has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season and has been picked off three times. He has completed 31 of 56 passes for 245 yards, averaging just 4.4 yards per passing attempt. On Sunday, in a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers , Young completed 18 of 26 passes for 84 yards and threw an interception. His longest pass against the Chargers went just 12 yards, and his season-long pass this year is just 35.
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According to ESPN, Young's 84 yards are tied for the fourth-fewest in team history with at least 25 pass attempts. Following Sunday's game, Canales said Young, who is 2-16 in the NFL, would remain the starter for the Panthers.
"Bryce is our quarterback," Canales said Sunday. "We're going to continue to shore and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme standpoint, all those things."
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After being picked No. 1 overall by Carolina in the 2023 NFL draft over No. 2 pick CJ Stroud , Young quickly entrenched himself as the starting quarterback. Young and the Panthers went 2-14 last season but did not hold their own first-round draft pick due to a trade-up for Young last season with the Texans .
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Canales — who served as the offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped Baker Mayfield have a career-best season in 2023 — was hired as the Panthers coach, with the thinking he could help Young find his footing in the NFL.
"I'm super grateful for Coach Canales,'' Young said following Sunday's game. "I have full trust in him as a coach, as a play caller in the system that he's brought in. We have to do a better job executing and helping him out.
"This is obviously tough times, but it's a greater opportunity for us and our relationship and the entire team to grow.''
Bryce Young stats
Here's a look at Young's stats through his first two seasons in the NFL:
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2023:315-of-527 passing (59.8%) for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions | 39 rushes for 253 yards
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2024:31-of-56 passing (55.4%) for 245 yards and three interceptions | Five rushes for 18 yards and one touchdown
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Career:346-of-583 (59.3%) for 3,122 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions | 44 rushes for 271 yards and one touchdown
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Bryce Young benched: Panthers bench Alabama QB, No. 1 NFL draft pick
