The Carolina Panthers have won three consecutive games for the first time since the 2021 season. Sitting at 4-3, it’s the latest they’ve been over .500 in a season since they were 5-4 back in 2019.
Unfortunately, their latest win was a costly one. Former No. 1 pick Bryce Young had to leave in the second half with an ankle injury. And while they still secured a 13-6 win without him, he could be looking at some time on the shelf.
When Will Bryce Young Return From Injury?
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Young sustained a high ankle sprain, so he’s out for Week 8 at the very least:
“Panthers QB Bryce Young suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday, an MRI revealed, and he is expected to miss this week’s game against the Bills, per sources,” wrote Pelissero. “Andy Dalton is now in line to start against Buffalo, and quite possibly beyond.”
Young did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but did some work on the sidelines without pads, indicating that he will not play this week.
Then again, given how high ankle sprains tend to linger, he could be looking at several weeks on the shelf. For context, that’s the same injury that cost CeeDee Lamb three weeks this season.
Andy Dalton took the field to replace Young, completing just four of seven passes for 60 yards. Young had completed 15 of 25 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown in a modest outing against a physical defense.
Dave Canales Will Commit to The Run
Now, with their starting quarterback on the sidelines, Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed that his team will double down on their run-heavy approach:
“We’ll look at all that and see what the best version of us is,” Canales said after the game. “But right now it’s running the football, and Andy can handle all those things and the pass game, the reps, the time on task with the group that we have, we’ve got to stay within the core of our system, and Andy’s fully involved in all that. So if he does play, that’ll be the mode.”
With Chubba Hubbard back from injury, the Panthers split their carries between him (14 rushes for 31 yards) and Rico Dowddle (17 carries for 79 yards). That should be their plan to face a Buffalo Bills team that has given up the second-most rushing yards per game (156.3).
Dalton is already familiar with Canales’ offense. He replaced Young early last season, made six appearances (five starts), throwing for 989 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing roughly 66% of his passes.
The setting isn’t ideal, especially now that it seems that Young was finally finding his footing in the league, but at least he’s got a proven veteran holding down the fort in his absence.
