The Carolina Panthers are off to a difficult 0-2 start this season, losing games to their NFC South rivals; the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. In Week 3, they will be looking to get off the schneide against the Seattle Seahawks on the road.
However, they will have to try and win the game without starting quarterback Bryce Young. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was injured during the Panthers’ game Monday night against the Saints, hurting his ankle.
The sprained ankle is bad enough that Young has been ruled out for this weekend’s contest with veteran Andy Dalton stepping into the starting lineup. It is natural to wonder if Dalton plays well would he remain the starter, but Panthers head coach Frank Reich put any talk of that to rest right away.
“Bryce has done well this week,” Reich said. “I’m optimistic he’s on the right path. Whatever the soonest he can get back is, he will get back. And when he gets back, he’ll be our guy.”
On the season, Young has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been under siege through most of the first two games as the offensive line performance has been underwhelming for Carolina, surrendering six sacks already.
There is a chance that this is only a one-week absence for Young. According to Reich, he was cleared medically to go to Seattle with the team, which implies he was close to being healthy enough to take the field.
The Panthers will be playing against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. But, if Young is unable to get on the field, the team is confident in Dalton getting the job done. Reich spoke highly of his veteran backup, as he believes he is good enough to be a starter in the league.
“This guy [is] playing at a high level,” Reich said. “The way he’s throwing the football, the way he works through progressions, the way he’s playing the game … since day one, when he’s walked through the door, I said he’s starter worthy.”
Dalton and the Panthers will have their hands full against the Seahawks in Week 3. Seattle is a notoriously difficult place for opponents to play and after a disappointing Week 1 performance in front of their home fans, they will be motivated to pick up a victory on Sunday.
