The Panthers won their third straight game on Sunday, but quarterback Bryce Young was unable to finish the game. Further missed time is likely in store. 
Young suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday. X-rays taken yesterday on the injury were negative, per Joe Person of The Athletic. That still left an MRI for today, though, and it provided more clarity on the ailment. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Young is expected to miss Week 8 given the results of today’s imaging.
A precise timeline is not in place at this point. As Pelissero notes, however, injuries such as this generally carry a recovery timeframe of two to four weeks. That could put Young in line to miss more than one contest, but for now the Panthers hope that only one week on the sidelines will be needed. In any case, Andy Dalton is now in position to handle QB1 duties for a period.
Young’s third season in the NFL (and second under head coach Dave Canales) has been inconsistent. The former No. 1 pick has managed to essentially duplicate his performances from 2024 in terms of completion percentage and passer rating. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes but also five interceptions, and a true breakthrough as a franchise quarterback has proven to be elusive. Still, being shorthanded under center will be an unwanted development for Carolina in advance of a matchup against the Bills.
Thanks to their winning streak, the Panthers sit at 4-3 on the year. That puts them in second in the NFC South for now. Remaining in postseason contention would be key for the team as stability on the sidelines and under center is sought out. It is still uncertain at this point if Young will be tasked with handling starting duties for the long term, but he will be extension-eligible after this season. A decision will need to be made on the former Heisman winner’s fifth-option during the spring as a result, with a long-term commitment also being possible.
Part of how the Panthers proceed with Young will depend on his availability. The 24-year-old has avoided significant missed time through injury to date, and continuing in that regard will be important as he aims to develop further under Canales and Co (although his rookie season resulted one game sidelined due to the same injury). As such, it will be interesting to see how quickly Young manages to return to action.
Dalton has been in Carolina since 2023. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has made six starts as a Panther, and that figure is now set to increase. Dalton is under contract through 2026 after re-signing on an $8MM pact this offseason. That investment on the part of the Panthers was aimed at keeping a high-floor backup in the fold with Young continuing to be evaluated as a potential long-term answer under center. The decision to keep Dalton in the mix saw him handle the close stages of yesterday’s win, and he will be tasked with maintaining Carolina’s momentum against a Bills team coming off its bye.