What Andy Dalton brings to Panthers in place of Bryce Young - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Andy Dalton's smile said it all.

On a day when Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales was stoic instead of his usual upbeat, cheerful self while announcing his decision to bench starting quarterback Bryce Young for Dalton, the veteran entered the locker room with a huge smile that beamed through his signature red mustache and beard that earned him the nickname the «Red Rifle.''

Yes, it was a bad day for Young, who according to a source with knowledge of the situation, was blindsided by Canales' decision, which came less than 24 hours after the first-year head coach said the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick would remain the starter Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).

But Dalton, a second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, was thrilled to have the chance start and help rescue a franchise that lost its first two games by a combined 73-13 margin and has had had six straight losing seasons.

»When I came here, I wasn't sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again,'' said Dalton, who signed a two-year, $10 million deal during the 2023 offseason to back up Young. «So I'm really looking forward to it. I'm excited about what's ahead.

»It's a tough situation. I've been on both sides of it, and it's hard. It's hard on everybody. But for me, I'm looking forward to it.''

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The 36-year-old Dalton's positive energy was something the Panthers needed after two weeks of a listless offense. Carolina's offensive efficiency rating of .70 ranks last through the first two games of a season since that metric was first tracked in