Bryce Young injury update: Panthers make decision on starting QB vs. Bills

The Panthers have made a decision on the status of Bryce Young for their Week 8 showdown with the Buffalo Bills. Andy Dalton will start on Sunday, regardless of whether Bryce Young is active or not, a team spokesperson said Friday per ESPN’s David Newton.

Young hasn’t been practicing this week, as he’s recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered in Carolina’s 13-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. He appeared to suffer the injury when Jets defensive tackle Jowon Briggs stepped on his ankle while sacking him on third down with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

At the time, Young limped off the field and did not return to the game. The Veteran quarterback in Dalton replaced him, and the Panthers didn’t score again after Young left the game. Still, they squeaked out a victory.

Before leaving the game, Young completed 15-of-his-25 pass attempts for 138 yards and a touchdown, without throwing an interception. With the win, the Panthers improved to 4-3 on the season.

For reference, the Panthers finished with a 4-12 record last season, Young’s second year in the NFL. He’s completed 61.8% of his pass attempts for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, compared to five interceptions. Last Wednesday, he discussed the team’s growth since he was drafted in 2023.

“We’re definitely continuing to build and grow in the right direction,” Young said. “Really, one of the biggest things that we’ve noticed is just ownership. Coach has done a great job of laying the foundation for us. And they’ll be the first to tell you they emphasize it, make sure we take ownership in the culture and the plays and in our routines and whatever it is.

“Everyone’s gotten a lot more comfortable embracing that. I’m embracing the culture, embracing the ownership and all the little things, and I think us being able to come into our own, it’s been great. It’s been great to be a part of, and it’s been great to be a leader through it. So you know there’s still work to do. Still so much for us to build off of. There’s still so much for us to grow in, and you know we’re just taking it week by week, but I’m super grateful to be a part of it.”

If Young’s injury sidelines him for a prolonged period, Dalton is no stranger to leading the Panthers’ offense. Last season, Dalton tallied 989 passing yards and six touchdowns for Carolina. However, he also threw a lackluster six interceptions.

With Dalton starting for the Panthers on Sunday when they face off against the Bills at 1 p.m. ET, we’ll see if they can continue their hot streak. The game will air live on FOX.

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this article.