In a sudden twist, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was benched by Coach Dave Canales, and he was subsequently replaced by Andy Dalton. However, Bryce wasnโt benched for any injuries; he is the first QB in years to be selected in the No. 1 common draft to be benched for non-injury-related purposes. So, why was the player replaced by Andy? Find out everything we know, below.
Why Was Bryce Young Benched by Dave Canales?
According to ESPN, Coach Canales said that benching Bryce was his decision in the end. He also discussed the choice with general manager Dan Morgan and executive vice president Brandt Tillis.
โCertainly a lot of parties involved there, and ultimately this comes on me,โ the coach explained, per the outlet. โMy No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win, and so, this move puts us in the best chance to do that.โ
The coach added that he watched the most recent games in which Bryce had played. In the end, he ultimately โhad to make the decision that was best for the team.โ
Dave Canales speaks to the media.
โ Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 16, 2024
โI certainly take it personal,โ Dave pointed out. โThis is about building a culture, this is about building a football team that plays to a certain style, and thatโs my main focus. And above all, itโs to help the Panthers to win. So, thatโs what the decision was about.โ
Bryce had a career-low of 6.4 total QBR by the time the Panthers lost against the Los Angeles Chargers. The athlete also spoke out following the Panthersโ game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite getting benched, he noted heโs โvery blessedโ to be where he is in his career.
โIโm very blessed,โ Bryce said during a press conference. โIโm grateful for this challenge. Not an ideal start, but God does everything for a reason. I have faith in that.โ
Bryce Young speaks to the media.
โ Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 15, 2024
Who Is Andy Dalton?
Andy is a quarterback who previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals, the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints before joining the Panthers.
According to ESPN, Andy admitted that he โwasnโt expectingโ Coach Canales to replace Bryce with him, but he had โbeen praying for another opportunity.โ
โWhen I came here, I wasnโt sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again,โ Andy confessed. โAnd so, Iโm really looking forward to it. Iโm excited about whatโs ahead.โ
As for the coachโs decision to bench Bryce, Andy acknowledged, โItโs a tough situation. Iโve been on both sides of it, and itโs hard on everybody. But for me, I mean, Iโm looking forward to it.โ
Is Bryce Young Coming Back to the Panthers?
For now, Bryce is not playing for the Panthers as a QB. His future with the team is still unknown. The football player was a fan-favorite for years after becoming a rising star on the University of Alabamaโs Crimson Tide team. After playing a successful junior year, Bryce decided to skip his senior year and enter the 2023 NFL Draft, which is when the Panthers selected him first overall.