Bryce Young will start vs. Giants after Panthers dismiss offers to trade him

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young has earned his third straight start.

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that the team’s second-year quarterback will start instead of veteran Andy Dalton this weekend, when the Panthers face the New York Giants on Sunday in Munich, Germany.

The news comes three days after Young earned a win against the New Orleans Saints at home — one that featured the first game-winning touchdown drive of his 3-19 career.

Against the Saints, Young finished 16 of 26 for 171 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded an interception, which depressed his passer rating to 77.6, but that INT was less a product of an errant pass and more a product of a perfectly placed ball getting masterfully yanked from the arms of the intended receiver.

Canales said this decision “is about the progress from one week to the next” that Young has made.

“I talk about ‘finish’ all the time,” Canales said. “Finish everything: finish plays, drives, quarters, halves. Finish games. He did a fantastic job of finishing that game the right way. Finding a way to win, and really battling that way, so I was really proud of Bryce for that. I took all the information in and wanted to give him another opportunity to get out there and face the Giants this week.”

Canales wouldn’t commit to settling on Young as the starting quarterback indefinitely. He also said he wouldn’t directly answer a question about if he thought Young as the starter provided the team the best chance to win. When asked, he said, in part, that “because of the progress he’s shown I want to focus on this week.” He also later added that “Andy did a good job when he was in there as well.”

”But as Bryce gets back in there to see the progress and to see those things gives me confidence to give him another chance,” Canales said. “But at the same time, I want to do what’s best for the team. And that requires taking all the information and seeing how we operate.”

Young has gone 1-1 in his past two starts. Prior to that, he hadn’t started since Week 2, after Canales benched the 2023 overall No. 1 draft pick for Dalton after Young’s abysmal start to his sophomore season in the NFL.

The rumors of teams inquiring about Young’s trade value spiked after Week 2. Reported interest continued to linger thereafter, but ultimately, Tuesday’s trade deadline came and went with Young still on the Panthers’ roster — something general manager Dan Morgan addressed on Wednesday.

“Every week, we’re assessing Bryce,” Morgan told reporters Wednesday. “Taking it day by day really. Seeing him grow, seeing him develop, being under coach and working with him, learning under Andy. I think we do see him growing everyday.

“We’re excited to work with him and to keep working with him in the future. And at the end of the day, we’ll have those conversations once the season ends, and we’ll see where we’re at.”

The first-year GM said he and his staff “never got into any discussions” of trading Young.

“I never opened that door,” he said. “Didn’t want to trade Bryce. Still don’t. I’m committed to working with him, helping him grow, and helping him develop.”

Young feels more comfortable after Saints

Young, by all accounts after the post-Week 2 benching, approached the job with professionalism as he watched from the sideline on gameday. Dalton proceeded to go 1-5 as a starter. Then, last month, Dalton got into a minor car accident where he sprained his right thumb, which paved the way for Young to start again.

After struggling in Denver, Canales said that Young would start again against the Saints as Dalton continued to recover from injury. But this decision was made with Dalton completely off the injury report — this was Young earning the job on his own merits.

When asked about Young’s comfort in the offense, the second-year QB said it’s the best he’s felt since his NFL arrival. He attributes that to “the amount of time” he’s had in the offense.

“Getting more reps has been great,” Young said. “I’m just grateful for just being able to be out there.”

He added that the week-to-week nature of his role is new to him — but also that the reality doesn’t impact how he prepares. He also reminded reporters, as he has throughout the season, that he isn’t externally motivated.

“I love the game,” Young said. “I got a ton of respect for the game, so no matter what, I was going to treat the preparation the same.”