Panthers QB Bryce Young had the best game of his career completing 26-of-46 for 298 yards and a TD. He also ran for 17 yards and another TD. With little run support to help, Young carried the Panthers to Overtime and a near victory.
Young was in command early in the game, but missed a few fourth quarter throws that could have turned the tides. He ended up completing 15-of-25 passes for 126 yards and a TD. He also ran the ball twice for 30 yards.
Panthers QB Andy Dalton (thumb) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice but will back up QB Bryce Young vs. the Saints this weekend, HC Dave Canales announced. “We’ll take all the information from this week, and then go forward and make the next best decision for the team," Canales said of the QB situation. It sounds like a week-to-week decision at this point. Young played one of his better games as a pro in the Week 8 loss to the Broncos -- but that, of course, isn't saying much. He completed 65% of his passes at 6.1 yards per attempt with two TDs and two INTs. Young is still an avoid in all fantasy formats.
Panthers QB Andy Dalton (thumb) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Broncos. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said this morning that the thumb injury could also cost Dalton Week 9. QB Bryce Young starts today in an impossible spot against a strong Denver defense and without WRs Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen.
Panthers QB Andy Dalton (thumb) missed practice all week and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. QB Bryce Young is fully expected to start that one. It's an impossible spot against a strong Denver defense and WRs Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen out.
Panthers QB Bryce Young will start this weekend's game vs. the Broncos, HC Dave Canales announced on Wednesday. QB Andy Dalton sprained a thumb in a car accident earlier this week. He'll be evaluated "day to day," Canales said, and might be available as Young's backup on Sunday.
QB Bryce Young is likely to start for the Panthers again this season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. QB Andy Dalton is taking over for Week 3 against the Raiders, but Rapoport hears Young's benching is viewed as more of a break than a season-long decision.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Panthers are benching QB Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton "beginning this week." Young threw for just 245 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 INTs over the season's first two games. Carolina visits the Raiders on Sunday.
The Panthers traded up one spot to grab South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with the final pick of Round 1. Legette is one of the toughest evaluations in this year’s WR class. He did next to nothing over his first four college seasons, totaling just 42 catches. That stretch included a 2020 hamstring injury and a 2021 motorcycle accident – all after Legette spent his senior year of high school playing QB. Then he came out of nowhere for a huge 2023 campaign. Legette’s 1,255 receiving yards ranked eighth in the country. He accounted for 37.6% of South Carolina’s receiving yards and 33.3% of the receiving TDs. And he ranked top-16 among 286 qualifying WRs in both yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Then Legette smashed the Combine, recording a 4.39-second 40 time and 40-inch vertical at 6’1, 221 pounds to earn a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score. That elite combination of size and speed pops off the tape. Legette can dominate on deep balls and after the catch. He also has a big catch radius and reliable hands. Legette is relatively raw in the route-running department, though, and isn’t the most agile player. It’s fair to wonder how much more room he has to grow considering he turned 23 in January. Legette lands in an offense with decent opportunity, but we wouldn't bet on big target share in 2024. Carolina acquired WR Diontae Johnson to boost a receiving corps that Adam Thielen led in 2023. Check our rookie rankings to see where Xavier Legette settles.
The Panthers acquired WR Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round pick from the Steelers in exchange for CB Donte Jackson and a sixth-rounder, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It's a relatively cheap price to pay for a guy with 332 catches over the past four seasons. Johnson's production has largely been volume-based, though. His 6.7 yards per target over those last four years ranks 67th among 71 WRs with 200+ total targets during that stretch. Johnson didn't rank better 23rd in yards per route in any of those seasons. That said, he immediately becomes the Panthers' clear No. 1 WR. And Carolina figures to throw it a bunch more than the Arthur Smith-led Steelers. QB play is a concern, of course, after Bryce Young's ugly rookie season. But the move is still a win for Johnson's 2024 fantasy value. In Pittsburgh, meanwhile, George Pickens will likely get a crack at No. 1 WR duties. The Steelers will certainly be adding to the WR corps this offseason, though. And Arthur Smith's run-heavy offense will keep Pickens' upside capped.
The Panthers are making a surprise choice in hiring former Buccaneers OC Dave Canales as HC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Canales arrives after spending just one year with the Bucs. But that season seems to have revived QB Baker Mayfield's career. Overall, the Bucs ranked just 20th in points, 23rd in total yards, tied for 19th in yards per play, and 20th in offensive DVOA. Before that, Canales spent 13 years coaching offense in Seattle, including three years as WRs coach, five as QBs coach, and two as passing-game coordinator. Canales drew praise for his role in QB Geno Smith's 2022 breakout. His work with Smith and Mayfield almost certainly excited the Panthers, who likely envision Canales as the guy to help QB Bryce Young rebound from a troubling rookie season. Of course, Canales goes from QBs coach for Smith and OC for Mayfield to HC in Carolina. So be careful about assuming too much from his influence. We'll see who Canales brings in to fill out his coaching staff and what the Panthers can add to an offense that sported unimpressive talent in 2023 (and doesn't have a 2024 first-round pick). This seems like a positive move for Young's dynasty outlook, but temper your excitement.
The Panthers fired GM Scott Fitterer on Monday. It’s not much of a surprise. Owner David Tepper fired HC Frank Reich after a 1-10 start, and the team proceeded to win only one more game. Overall, Carolina went 14-37 across three seasons with Fitterer as GM. A lack of progress from Bryce Young will make this job challenging for any incoming GM. Of course, the Panthers will also be without a Round 1 pick this year after trading up for Young. We’ll monitor potential HC/GM candidates in the coming weeks.
Coming off a season-high 312 passing yards on a season-high 8.7 yards per attempt in Week 16, Panthers QB Bryce Young crashed back to earth in the Week 17 shutout loss to the Jaguars. He completed 19 of 32 passes (59%) for 112 yards (3.5 YPA), 0 TDs, and one INT. That against a Jacksonville defense that entered the week 29th in passing yards allowed. It was Young's 10th game of the season with fewer than 200 passing yards; his ninth under 6.0 yards per pass attempt; and his seventh without a passing TD. It's been a worrisome rookie season for the first overall pick. He's had little help from his coaching staff, offensive line, or pass catchers. But he's also done very little to elevate the offense. Young will be buried in the 2024 redraft QB rankings. And he's closer to a sell-low than a buy in dynasty.
The Panthers fired HC Frank Reich. He didn't even make it a full season in Carolina, going 1-10 in his 11 games. An offensive-minded coach, Reich's Panthers offense sits 30th in yards per game, 29th in points per game, and 31st in offensive DVOA. A poor group of skill-position players didn't help the cause, but Reich did very little to elevate the offense or rookie QB Bryce Young. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will finish out the season as interim HC, while OC Thomas Brown takes back over as play-caller. We'll see if the moves lead to any changes in player usage, but don't expect the offense to be noticeably better.
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