Bryce Young was benched by the Carolina Panthers just two games into his second NFL season, but that does not mean the team is ready to completely move on from the former first overall pick just yet.
In his latest column for ESPN that was published on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler said he has not gotten the sense that the Panthers plan to explore trading Young. Fowler noted that Andy Dalton, who will start for the Panthers on Sunday, is 36 and not a long-term QB solution for the team.
“Benchings rarely result in healthy second chances at that spot, but he now commands the role of developmental quarterback,” Fowler wrote. “Dalton is 36. He has been fairly durable but has fought through his share of injuries. In the short term, I expect the Panthers will try to help Young rebuild his confidence in the event Dalton struggles or is injured. Young is No. 2 on the depth chart with no one behind him at this point.”
Fowler added that the Panthers still believe Young can be an effective quarterback in the NFL, so they want to spend some time trying to develop the 23-year-old.
Of course, Carolina could be trying to maintain leverage in potential trade discussions centered on Young. There is also a chance a team could make an offer that the Panthers did not anticipate receiving.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who used to be a quarterbacks coach, has said it was his decision to bench Young after two games. If true, that is not a good sign for the former Alabama star, as Canales will likely still be Carolina’s coach next season.
Young passed for 245 yards, no touchdowns and 3 interceptions in the first two games of the season. He reportedly had a strong reaction to being benched.
H/T Bleacher Report
