Panthers' Bryce Young to start after Dalton hurts thumb in crash - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will start Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos after Andy Dalton suffered a sprained right thumb Tuesday in a car accident.

Dalton, his wife, three children and dog were traveling west on Sardis Road near Providence Road about 7 miles from Bank of America Stadium when the accident occurred.

Coach Dave Canales said the hope is Dalton can be the backup Sunday at Denver. He said Dalton will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis in terms of who will start moving forward.

Dalton, 36, has gone 1-4 since replacing Young as the starter for Carolina (1-6).

Young was benched in favor of Dalton after an 0-2 start in which he threw three interceptions to no touchdowns. Dalton won his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders but has lost his past four starts.

Young is 2-16 overall as the starter after being the top pick of the 2023 draft.

This isn't the first time a Carolina quarterback change was sparked by an injury in a car crash. Cam Newton suffered two back fractures in 2014 in an accident in which his truck tumbled, also on a Tuesday and less than half a mile from BOA.

At the time of that accident, the Panthers were 4-8-1 but still in the hunt for the NFC South title. Backup Derek Anderson started one game, a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in place of Newton, and Carolina went on to win the division with a 7-8-1 record.

Carolina is entering a three-game stretch against the Broncos (4-3), New Orleans Saints (2-5) and New York Giants (2-5) before its bye weekend.