Panthers QB Bryce Young not expected to play vs. Seahawks in Week 3; Andy Dalton to start
Bryce Young is not expected to play in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks due to an ankle injury, the Carolina Panthers said in their injury report on Thursday. Veteran Andy Dalton would replace the rookie quarterback as the starter.
Young sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday.
In speaking with the media on Wednesday, head coach Frank Reich said he didn't know which play Young was injured on during their Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He found out about the injury on Monday night.
"I do not think it impacted his performance, based on talking to him about it," he said.
The Panthers have the two quarterbacks on their active roster and signed Jake Luton to the practice squad on Wednesday.
"Our core stuff is always gonna be our core stuff and whether it's Bryce or Andy, I'm not sure there would be much difference between the two in the game plan," Reich said. "Maybe, maybe, a couple plays, but not much. So we'll just move forward like we normally would."
"For me, I'm just preparing the same way I prepare every week," Dalton said. "We'll see how it goes as the week goes on. But with Bryce down right now, I'm getting the reps and preparing like I do every week."
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Reich expressed confidence in Dalton, who joined Carolina this offseason from New Orleans. The quarterback is a three-time Pro Bowler who led TCU to a Rose Bowl win to cap off his college career.
Dalton lined up under center a few plays last week against his old team.
"Andy's a very experienced QB, winning QB," the coach said. "We think it adds a little element of mystery and surprise and to keep defenses off balance. 'Why are they bringing this guy in?' I've done that before in past years in other offenses with other quarterbacks."
Young has gone 42-for-71 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions after being the No. 1 overall draft pick this spring.
Reich said the former Alabama standout has been "locked in" during practice even on the sidelines.
Dalton said he knows he is only stepping in temporarily. He added that he's "absolutely" having fun with the first team.
"When you get a chance to kind of take ownership of what you're doing and to know how you want it to look and how you want it to feel and you actually get to execute it, that's what makes football fun," he said.
"Bryce, he came in and he was going to be the starter. From the beginning, we knew that was gonna happen. So whenever Bryce is healthy, you know he's gonna step right back in there and he's gonna be the one playing. ... My goal is to win and, especially here, this is Bryce's thing. I'm not here to make this a competition, make this anything. I'm here to help the team."