Panthers To Start Bryce Young In Week 8
Andy Dalton was involved in a car accident Tuesday. While the Carolina starter did not need to be hospitalized, Dave Canales confirmed the veteran passer sustained a thumb sprain. Dalton is not expected to play against the Broncos in Week 8.
This will push Bryce Young back into action; Canales said the former No. 1 overall pick will be at the controls in Denver. Canales hopes Dalton can return as the backup, potentially pointing to a Young path back to the full-time QB1 role even when the more experienced passer is healthy. Regardless of how this will shake out, Young is coming back after five games on the bench.
Traveling with his wife, three kids and their dog, Dalton suffered the thumb injury in the accident — which occurred a few minutes away from Bank of America Stadium, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. Neither Dalton nor his family needed to be hospitalized as a result of the wreck, but the sprain involving the QB’s throwing thumb poses a problem for his availability. Dalton did not practice Wednesday.
Rumors suggesting the Panthers were done with Young circulated following his Week 3 benching. The 5-foot-10 QB struggled mightily to start his second season, marking no notable improvement from a rough rookie year. Canales had initially said Young would be back to start in Week 3, but upon closer inspection (and conversations with ownership), the new Carolina HC benched the player the franchise mortgaged its future for in 2023. Young has seen action since, and as the losses pile up (following a Dalton-led win over the Raiders), it makes sense for the 1-6 team to give the unproven player more time.
At least four teams contacted the Panthers about Young, but the team is not interested in trading the former Heisman winner. That said, rumblings about a separation in 2025 emerged soon after the benching, as Young was “pissed” about being pulled 18 starts into his career. The Panthers’ party line pointed to Young receiving another chance in 2024, labeling the benching a reset. But a report that came out soon after Canales’ call did not depict the demotion that way, with Dalton being viewed as the starter unless an injury intervened.
Dalton’s minor injury does give the Panthers another chance to look at Young. Carolina’s offense has fared better under Dalton, as Young’s most recent start featured 84 passing yards on 26 attempts. He went 13 of 30 in Week 1. While Deshaun Watson‘s QBR (23.5) ranks last among qualified options, Young holds a 10.4 number. Young’s 34.1 mark ranked ahead of only Zach Wilson in 2023, leading the Panthers — who made some shaky decisions in terms of weaponry around their new QB last year — to add several pieces this offseason. Dalton ranks 17th in QBR this season.
Despite Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette joining Adam Thielen at receiver and Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis coming in as high-priced guards, Young struggled to the point veterans complained about the state of the offense. That produced a strikingly quick hook, but Young’s second chance will begin soon. Denver’s defense has powered its operation this season, representing a tough spot for Young. Vance Joseph‘s unit ranks third in points and yards allowed.
Panthers Designate Adam Thielen, Jordan Fuller To Return From IR; D.J. Wonnum In PUP-Return Window
As the Panthers head toward another deadline as a likely seller, they will have some of their veteran pieces on the way back to action. Two Carolina cogs are in the IR-return window, while D.J. Wonnum is practicing after an extensive stay on the PUP list.
Wonnum, who suffered a quad tear late last season, is practicing for the first time in 2024. The Panthers have started the edge rusher’s 21-day activation clock. Ditto Adam Thielen and Jordan Fuller, who are back at practice after IR stays. While Thielen and Fuller are not yet on the active roster, it appears they will be again soon.
The Panthers have delivered another poor start, with the Dave Canales-Dan Morgan era already including a benching of Bryce Young. But the team figures to have some reinforcements soon. For Thielen, a return could be notable should the Panthers decide to go into fire-sale mode. Diontae Johnson has come up in trade rumors; at 34, Thielen would make sense as a trade candidate as well, especially with a hot receiver trade market.
Fuller is playing on a one-year deal in Carolina, but he did not stand out in the Panthers defense before his injury, so he’s unlikely to garner major trade interest. Instead, he’ll slot back into the starting lineup where Nick Scott has started the last four games in Fuller’s absence.
Wonnum can practice for up to three weeks before he has to be added to the active roster or reverts to season-ending injured reserve. He won’t be on the trade block since teams cannot evaluate his play this year, but his return may allow the Panthers to consider trading Jadeveon Clowney to a contender in need of pass rush help.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/24
Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from injured reserve: CB Arthur Maulet
- Waived: ILB Josh Ross
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: LB Cam Gill
- Signed off Dolphins’ practice squad: DT Jonathan Harris
- Released: LB Marquis Haynes
- Waived: LB Chandler Wooten, DT T.J. Smith
Detroit Lions
- Released from injured reserve: WR Tre’Quan Smith
Houston Texans
- Waived: DE Rashad Weaver
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: CB Keith Taylor
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Jaylen Watson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: CB Shaun Wade
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: OLB Bo Richter
- Released: TE Robert Tonyan
- Signed to active roster: DT Armon Watts
- Waived: Boogie Basham
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on injured reserve: DT Montravius Adams
Washington Commanders
- Suspended for six games: CB Kevon Seymour
The Ravens finally activated Maulet to the 53-man roster at the very end of his 21-day return window. The veteran slot cornerback underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during the preseason, but dealt with a minor hamstring injury upon his return to practice. To make room, Baltimore waived Ross, a special teams starter, likely hoping to add him back to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Maulet’s return could not be coming at a better time for a Ravens pass defense that was already struggling before starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey left Monday night’s victory over the Buccaneers with an injury.
The Panthers signed Gill off the Lions’ practice squad and Harris off the Dolphins’ practice squad to fortify their defense on Tuesday. They also released Haynes and waived Wooten and Smith as part of an overhaul of their weak front seven.
The Giants signed Watts from their practice squad to strengthen the interior of their defensive line while waiving Basham, a former Bills second-round pick who arrived in New York via trade in August 2023. Giants general manager Joe Schoen was the assistant GM in Buffalo when Basham was drafted, while Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator. Schoen traded a sixth-round pick in exchange for Basham and a seventh-rounder from the Bills just before the 2023 regular season, but Basham did not record a single sack in 13 games as a Giant.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/24
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Phillip Dorsett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Andrew Raym
- Released: OLB Shaq Lawson, DT Jayden Peevy
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: T Andrew Coker
- Released: DT Domenique Davis
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Erick Hallet
Green Bay Packers
- Released: TE Andrew Beck
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Jawhar Jordan
- Released: OL Arlington Hambright
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: QB Chris Oladokun, WR Cornell Powell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Terrace Marshall, TE Trevon Wesco
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Released: LS Tucker Addington
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Breiden Fehoko
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: CB Eric Garror
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T Isaiah Prince
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Ben Nikkel, WR Mike Strachan
- Released: S Sheldrick Redwine
Prince played under Brian Callahan in Cincinnati but has only played two games over the past two seasons. A six-game starter with the Dolphins and Bengals, Prince missed all of the 2020 season due to a COVID-19 opt-out and then all of the 2022 season due to injury.
The Vikings cut Tonyan from their 53-man roster earlier today, but because the NFC North mainstay is a vested veteran, he did not need to clear waivers before joining Minnesota’s practice squad. With T.J. Hockenson on the way back, Tonyan profiles as insurance.
This is a third chance for Marshall. The Panthers waived him after three seasons. No team claimed the former second-round pick, with Joe Brady‘s Bills passing. The 49ers took a flier soon after but released him last week.
Panthers Activate CB Dane Jackson
A key member of the Panthers’ secondary is set to make his Carolina debut tomorrow. Dane Jackson was activated from injured reserve Saturday, the team announced. 
A hamstring injury meant Jackson would not be healthy in time for the start of the season. Carolina was one of many teams which elected to use the IR-designated for return path created this year in his case, avoiding the need to name him to the initial roster while using one of the eight allocated in-season activations. Jackson returned to practice on October 2, so Carolina could have waited until after Week 7 to being in into the fold.
Instead, this move paves the way for the free agent pickup to suit up on Sunday against the Commanders. Jackson played out his rookie contract with the Bills, making 28 starts amongst his 52 appearances. His most productive season came in 2022, when he posted a pair of interceptions along with 12 pass deflections and 57 tackles. As Buffalo underwent a number of changes in the secondary this offseason, though, the 27-year-old departed in free agency.
Jackson inked a two-year, $8.5MM deal including $5.13MM guaranteed to join the Panthers. That pact set him up to handle a first-team role opposite Jaycee Horn, but his debut with the team was delayed due to the injury. Now that he is healthy, Jackson will be tasked with aiding a defense which ranks last in scoring and sits 23rd against the pass. The team moved on from veteran slot man Troy Hill earlier in the week, paving the way for younger options to see playing time on the inside.
That decision, coupled with Jackson’s activation, could spark improved play in the secondary for the 1-5 Panthers. Part of the former seventh-rounder’s 2025 compensation is already locked in, so a poor showing over the coming months would not stand to threaten his roster security. Strong play could, however, make him a key member of at least the team’s short-term plans moving forward.
Panthers To Release CB Troy Hill
Troy Hill is set to hit mid-season free agency. The veteran corner is being released by the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Carolina sits at 1-5 on the year, so it comes as little surprise the team is electing to move on from a veteran to open up playing time for younger options in the secondary. Hill’s contract was set to expire after the year anyway, but now he will be available to interested teams without a trade being necessary. Having been let go before the trade deadline, Hill will not be subject to waivers.
The 33-year-old joined the Panthers last August, landing a deal shortly before the start of the regular season. That one-year pact allowed him to reunite with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, with whom he worked during their time together with the Rams. Hill logged a 50% snap share in 2023, notching 48 tackles, six pass deflections and one interception.
That production allowed him to remain in Carolina, and he agreed to a new deal before the start of free agency. Rather than playing out that pact (which was near veteran minimum), he will try to latch onto a roster midway through the campaign. This move will generate a roughly equal amount of dead money along with salary cap savings.
Hill saw considerable time on the outside earlier in his career, but more recently he has operated more in the slot. That skillset could help his value, although the former UDFA has struggled in coverage this season. Hill has landed outside the top 55 in terms of CB PFF grading over each of the past three years, and that will continue in 2024 if he is unable to deliver stronger performances on his next team. As a veteran of 60 starts, though, he could provide experienced secondary depth at a minimum to a contending team.
The Panthers have struggled in a number of areas this season, including against the pass (226 yards allowed per contest, 26th in the NFL). Moving on from Hill will pave the way for increased playing time for some of the team’s younger corner contributors, including fifth-round rookie Chau Smith-Wade. It will be interesting to see how much interest develops amongst teams looking to add Hill in short order.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/24
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return: DT Jaden Crumedy, S Sam Franklin Jr.
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated for return: OT Joe Noteboom
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated for return: TE Albert Okwuegbunam
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE Jalyn Holmes
- Signed from practice squad: DT Sheldon Day
- Placed on IR: DT Jonathan Allen, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
A number of players returned to practice today, designating their return from injured reserve. This means teams will have 21 days to activate the players from IR to the active roster.
Noteboom is the most notable name, as the veteran has spent his entire career in Los Angeles. The former third-round pick has settled into a versatile sixth OL for the Rams, starting 32 of his 68 appearances. The lineman started Week 1 but only played in about one third of his team’s offense snaps before suffering an ankle injury.
Panthers Open RB Jonathon Brooks’ Practice Window
OCTOBER 16: This is now official. Brooks will begin practicing with the Panthers, who have 21 days to activate him. This week will mark the second-round rookie’s first practices since his November 2023 ACL tear.
OCTOBER 14: Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is one step closer to making his NFL debut. The Panthers are set to open his 21-day practice window, setting up a prepared activation from the non-football injury list, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Carolina did not officially make the move on Monday, but head coach Dave Canales told reporters a practice debut is imminent. This will be a welcome development for a Panthers team still in the early stages of a rebuild, and Brooks is expected to play a key role in that plan.
The 46th overall pick back in April, Brooks tore his ACL in late 2023, which damaged but did not plummet his draft stock. The Panthers still took him in the second round as the potential future of their backfield, a decision that drew criticism considering Carolina’s other needs and lack of future draft capital after the Bryce Young trade. No other team chose a running back in the first or second round this year, illustrating Carolina’s confidence in Brooks’ talents.
Brooks began the season on the NFI list, with the Panthers prioritizing his long-term health over a speedy return. Chuba Hubbard has excelled as Carolina’s lead back in the meantime, ranking third in rushing yards (485), second in success rate (64.0%), and fifth in yards per attempt (5.6). Hubbard’s early success should allow Brooks to slowly build up his workload as he adjusts to the NFL and acclimates to Canales’ offense.
At 1-5, the Panthers need all the help they can get, but Brooks’ return will do little to kickstart an anemic offense that has struggled with poor quarterback play and offensive line injuries this year. The Texas product should be a bigger pass-catching threat out of the backfield, as both Hubbard and Miles Sanders have yet to crack 100 receiving yards on the year.
Once he is designated for return, Brooks will have 21 days to be added to the Panthers’ 53-man roster. Otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve, though that would only happen with a significant health setback.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/15/24
Today’s minor moves in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: K Chad Ryland
- Placed on IR: DT Bilal Nichols, K Matt Prater
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: G Matt Hennessy
- Placed on IR: S Micah Abernathy
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: G Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off Steelers’ practice squad): OLB Jacoby Windmon
- Waived: OLB Tarron Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: C Nick Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived with injury settlement: DE Durrell Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Waived: DB Tanner McCalister
Detroit Lions
- Signed (off Bengals’ practice squad): DE Isaiah Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Aidan Hutchinson (story), DT Kyle Peko (story)
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DT Kurt Hinish
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived with injury settlement: WR Jacob Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on IR: CB Artie Burns
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway
- Signed to active roster: CB Keenan Isaac
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Tre Avery
Nichols is reportedly out for the season, per the Cardinals, but Prater could still return after an additional four-game absence. He’s already missed two games so far with a left knee issue. The 40-year-old was a perfect six-for-six on field goal attempts this year while 10-for-10 on extra points.
The Browns lose an important depth lineman in Harris. Harris started games at left tackle and center as an injury replacement this year, but he’ll be out for at least the next four games with an ankle injury.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reported that Abernathy will be out for a “significant time,” per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/24
Today’s NFL practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OLB Ronnie Perkins
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Dane Cruikshank, T Coy Cronk
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: CB Damarion Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dan Chisena, LB Shaquille Quarterman
- Released: WR Deon Cain
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DE Jamree Kromah, LS Jake McQuaide
- Released: DT Travis Bell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR James Proche, C Cameron Tom
- Released: RB Gary Brightwell, DT Siaki Ika
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DT Phil Hoskins
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: T Spencer Rolland
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Jalen Redmond
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Dante Pettis
- Released: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Armon Watts
- Released: CB Duke Shelley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Parry Nickerson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Adrian Amos
- Released: WR Terrace Marshall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Dallis Flowers
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Joshua Kelley
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Carl Davis
Amos is far-removed from his days as a full-time starter in the NFC North. With Talanoa Hufanga on injured reserve, though, and only three safeties on the active roster, Amos could have an opportunity to make an impact in the Bay Area.