According to Adam Jahns and Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has reportedly decided to sign the team to bench second-year quarterback Bryce Young for veteran Andy Dalton:

“After the Panthers scored 13 points and scored 60 more points in the first two weeks, Canales — along with Morgan and Tilis — benched Young, which Tepper did, according to a source who was granted anonymity so he could speak freely , prohibited.”

Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, struggled in his rookie season, a year in which the Panthers collapsed, firing first-year head coach Frank Reich midway through the season and ending the season with 2:15.

He got a fresh start this year under new head coach Dave Canales. However, Young did not perform well in two games, completing 31 of 56 passes for just 245 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns.

The Panthers traded up from ninth to first in the 2023 NFL Draft and ultimately selected Young. However, Carolina has a lot to offer to get him, having the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft, a first-round pick in 2024 (which ultimately turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams), a second-rounder Pick in 2023 and … sent in 2025 and receiver DJ Moore, who had 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in his first year in Chicago.

The Athletic reported that “the feeling at Panthers headquarters was that Young was the favorite from the start, according to four sources who were granted anonymity to speak freely.”

The Houston Texans took CJ Stroud from Ohio State with the next pick. Stroud ultimately won the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Texans to the AFC South title last season.

Ultimately, Young’s career is far from over, but she’s off to the worst possible start. And the Panthers have dug themselves into a monstrous hole considering how much the team gave up for Young and where the team currently stands (1-3, last in the NFC South).

Maybe Young will regroup after the bench move, figure it out, and lead the Panthers to success. For now, though, it’s Dalton’s team, and he’ll look to get Carolina back on track when the team visits the Bears on Sunday.