Bryce Young Named Starting Quarterback for Panthers in Week 8

The Carolina Panthers are starting Bryce Young at quarterback in Week 8, head coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday.

This comes one day after starting quarterback Andy Dalton was involved in a car accident with his family. Dalton was with the team on Wednesday but didn't practice.

Read more: Panthers QB Andy Dalton and Family Involved in Car Accident

Canales said Dalton is dealing with a sprained thumb, which opens the door for Young to get his third start of the season. Fortunately, Canales said Dalton "feels good, other than his thumb."

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 20: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers looks on prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. Young is starting... Greg Fiume/Getty Images

The 2024 season has been a rollercoaster of a year for Young. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick entered the year as the undisputed starting quarterback in Carolina. However, after just two starts in which the Panthers went 0-2 and lost by a combined score of 73-13, Carolina decided it was time for a change.

The Panthers benched Young after just 18 career starts and put Dalton in charge of the offense. In Week 3, the move paid instant dividends, as the Panthers beat the Las Vegas Raiders, 36-22. However, since then, the Panthers have lost four consecutive games, including a 40-7 beatdown at the hands of the Washington Commanders in Week 7.

Despite the Panthers' struggles, Canales made it known earlier this week that the team had no plans of changing things up at quarterback. He also made it sound like the team could trade Young before the Nov. 5 deadline.

Read more: Panthers Seem to Have Changed Course on Bryce Young Trade

However, after the scary incident with Dalton and his family on Tuesday, the veteran signal-caller will now be sidelined for at least this week. That gives Young another opportunity to lead the Panthers.

This week will be crucial for Young and the Panthers as he'll get a chance to audition not only for Carolina but for the rest of the league. If the Panthers do, in fact, want to move on from Young, a strong performance from him could elevate his value around the league.

On the flip side, if he continues to struggle, Carolina may have no choice but to end the Young era and allow him to grow elsewhere.

At the beginning of the week, it didn't sound like Young would get an opportunity to start before the trade deadline. However, Young will now do just that in Week 8, and potentially even in Week 9 depending on how Dalton recovers. The NFL trade deadline is right after Week 9.

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