Andy Dalton injury update: Dave Canales provides mixed update on Carolina Panthers QB

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton is set to undergo further testing on an elbow injury suffered in Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans, head coach Dave Canales said afterward. He left the game after taking a hit from Danielle Hunter.

Bryce Young started Saturday’s contest before Dalton took over. However, in the first quarter, the veteran QB went to throw a pass to Tetairoa McMillan when Hunter got his arm.

Canales said it’s likely a sprain for Dalton, who did not return. He was seen on the sidelines with his teammates, though, as the Panthers fell 20-3 in their second preseason game of the year.

Dalton decided to stay in Carolina back in February when he agreed to a two-year contract with the team. He just wrapped up his second campaign with Carolina, playing in six games and starting five of them during the 2025 season. He provides some stability to the room if anything were to happen to Young, so long as he’s healthy.

Young showed flashes of potential last season after a rocky first year in the NFL in 2023. Despite being benched mid-year, the former Alabama star threw for 2,403 yards and 15 touchdowns across 14 games while adding 249 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Young did not record a rushing touchdown as a rookie.

His development is key for the Panthers’ future after the franchise traded up to select him No. 1 overall. For Andy Dalton, he chose to come back and help Carolina keep building. That’s why he signed so early in free agency.

“I think the trajectory of this team is trending in the right direction, and you want to be a part of it,” Dalton said in February. “From when it wasn’t as easy to win games and to see where it’s going to go and to feel where it’s going to go. The right people are here, and they’re going to keep adding to it, so it’s something that I didn’t want to just be part of at the beginning of it and then be away and then see the success and see where it goes. But now I want to be part of the whole building of this thing.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with the organization, with Dan, with so many people up there, and even in the middle of the season, it was like we want to be back; we want to be part of this. And it felt the same from them. And with all that, it’s like, I’m glad the timing worked out. This is the first time I’ve ever, ever been re-signed this early in free agency because normally, I’ve been searching for a new team. But I’m just glad it all got done, and I’m glad it happened early and don’t have to worry about anything going into free agency, right?”