Panthers Grant DT A’Shawn Robinson Permission To Seek Trade; Team Open To Moving QB Andy Dalton
A’Shawn Robinson has been a full-time starter with the Panthers since arriving in free agency two years ago. The veteran defensive tackle’s Carolina tenure is likely nearing an end, however. 
Robinson has been granted permission to seek a trade, Joe Person of The Athletic reports (subscription required). In cases such as this, teams often attempt to gauge the trade market of a player they are likely to release in the absence of any offers. Person recently pointed to Robinson as a strong cut candidate, making today’s news unsurprising.
One year remains on Robinson’s contract, a three-year, $22.5MM pact he signed on the open market in 2024. The former Lion, Giant and Ram is currently scheduled to carry a cap hit of $12.56MM in 2026. However, a release in this case would yield $10.5MM in savings while only creating a dead money charge of $2.06MM. That could very well lead to a Robinson departure through a cost-shedding move soon, unless a trade partner can be found. Soon to turn 31, Robinson has totaled 145 tackles and eight sacks in 33 Panthers games.
Another Carolina veteran who could be on the move shortly is Andy Dalton. The longtime quarterback is drawing trade interest, and the final year of his contract contains a base salary of just $3.9MM. That figure could be attractive for any number of teams seeking out affordable depth under center, and Panthers general manager Dan Morgan has spoken about a willingness to find a new Bryce Young backup this offseason.
“There’s a potential that somebody may want him,” Morgan acknowledged during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link). “Andy’s a really good player, and he’s a great guy, great culture fit for us. I haven’t talked to any teams about a trade, but I think if the possibility did come up then I would talk to Andy, give him that option and let him explore a trade. I do think we want to get a little younger and a little more athletic at that backup quarterback spot.”
Dalton is 38, so the list of replacement candidates which are younger is rather long. The former Pro Bowler has made a total of seven starts across his three Carolina seasons, but Young has shown enough to enter 2026 as the team’s clear-cut starer. Even though a long-term extension is not likely to be worked out this offseason, Young could be in line for a substantial raise relatively soon.
Finding a long-term backup option as early as this spring would make sense for Carolina as a result. Just like Robinson, that could lead to Dalton finding himself on the move in time for the start of the new league year.
Panthers’ Andy Dalton Garnering Interest
Bryce Young is locked in as the Panthers’ starting quarterback for 2026, but the team may have a new second-stringer next season. Backup Andy Dalton is generating trade interest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A three-time Pro Bowler during his run as the Bengals’ starter from 2011-19, Dalton has since achieved journeyman status. Before moving to Carolina in 2023, Dalton divided three seasons among Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans.
Since the end of his Bengals tenure, the 38-year-old has combined for 36 starts, including seven with the Panthers. He briefly took over as the Panthers’ starter when they benched a struggling Young in September 2024. Dalton made five starts then, but after he sprained his thumb in an October car crash, Young reclaimed the position for the rest of the year. The former No. 1 overall pick has held the role ever since.
With Young performing well enough to keep his job in 2025, Dalton saw less action than ever. He attempted a career-low 37 passes over four appearances. His lone start, a 40-9 loss to the Bills in Week 8, came while Young was on the shelf with a high ankle sprain. That may go down as Dalton’s last start as a Panther if general manager Dan Morgan receives a good enough offer. Otherwise, given Dalton’s close relationship with Young, the Panthers may be content to continue with him in the No. 2 role.
Twelve months ago, with Dalton nearing another trip to free agency, Morgan kept him in place on a two-year, $8MM extension. He’s due a 2026 base salary of $3.9MM, which is reasonable for an established backup and even more appealing for a stopgap starter.
It’s unknown which teams have shown interest in Dalton, but Rich Cimini of ESPN points out that he played for Jets offensive coordinator/former Panthers head coach Frank Reich in Carolina in 2023. The Jets are expected to release Justin Fields, while Tyrod Taylor is heading for free agency. That leaves New York as an obvious landing spot for a veteran signal-caller, whether it’s Dalton or someone else.
Panthers Place OL Brady Christensen On IR, Sign QB Mike White To Active Roster
NOVEMBER 2: The thumb on Dalton’s throwing hand is actually broken, per Person (subscription required). Dalton broke the thumb during the second series of the Buffalo contest, though he did not immediately tell the coaching staff about the injury.
Young returned to practice as a full participant on Wednesday, and he has no injury designation for Week 9. He will therefore return to his QB1 post.
OCTOBER 30: Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen underwent surgery for a torn Achilles on Wednesday and was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per team reporter Darin Gantt.
Christensen went down in the Panthers’ Week 8 loss to the Bills and will miss the rest of the season. He had started the last four games at right guard after Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala both landed on injured reserve. Five-year veteran Jake Curhan finished the game at right guard.
Christensen’s injury was one of several to the Panthers’ offensive line on Sunday. Center Cade Mays injured his ankle and right tackle Taylor Moton injured his knee; they were replaced by Austin Corbett and Yosh Nijman, respectively. Head coach Dave Canales said this week (via Gant and his colleague Kassidy Hill) that Mays was not expected to play in Week 9, but Moton might. That would keep Corbett at center and potentially insert Nijman into the starting lineup.
At right guard, the Panthers could stick with Curhan, but Zavala is expected to be activated from IR ahead of Sunday’s game against the Packers, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. That will likely position him to start, potentially for the rest of the season if Hunt does not come back.
With the open spot on their roster, the Panthers promoted veteran quarterback Mike White from the practice squad. That may not be a good sign for Andy Dalton‘s availability this week. He is dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand and did not practice on Wednesday. Bryce Young is trending towards a return after missing Week 8 with a high ankle sprain; if Dalton can’t go, White would be Young’s backup on Sunday.
The Panthers also filled the open practice squad spot created by White’s promotion by re-signing defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy.
Panthers QB Bryce Young Dealing With High Ankle Sprain, Will Miss Week 8
OCTOBER 24: Young has been listed as doubtful on the Panthers’ injury report. While that would leave the door open to him playing in theory, as team spokesperson has since said (via ESPN’s David Newton) Dalton will get the start for Week 8 regardless of whether or not Young is able to dress.
OCTOBER 20: 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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Bryce Perkins
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: OL Nick Gargiulo
- Signed: FB Adam Prentice
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DL Philip Blidi
Perkins, the reigning UFL MVP, will add some depth to the Panthers’ quarterback room with Andy Dalton sidelined by an elbow injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perkins appeared in five games for the Rams between 2020 and 2022, but has not played in the last two NFL seasons.
The Broncos were looking to add another fullback after a hamstring injury to starter Michael Burton, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. They auditioned Prentice, Khari Blasingame, and Troy Hairston on Saturday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with Prentice earning a roster spot. This will be his second stint in Denver after starting his career there as an undrafted rookie in 2021.
Panthers Re-Sign QB Andy Dalton
FEBRUARY 21: The deal is now official, and Over the Cap notes Dalton’s locked in compensation includes a $2.65MM signing bonus. Thanks to a 2027 void year, his cap charges will check in at $3.2MM and $5.85MM for the next two seasons while serving as a cost-effective backup in Carolina.
FEBRUARY 18: The Panthers have signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a two-year, $8MM extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $6MM in fully guaranteed money with a maximum value of $10MM.
Dalton will be under contract in Carolina through the 2026 season and can continue his mentorship of former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, with whom he has a “close relationship,” according to Schefter.
Both quarterbacks earned praise from within and without the Panthers organization for how they handled the tumultuous 2024 season. Young was benched after just two games with Dalton starting Weeks 3 through 7. In that span, he completed 106 of his 159 passes for 989 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The Panthers went 1-4 with Dalton under center before a car accident sidelined him in Week 8, giving Young another opportunity to start. Dalton only missed one game, but Young held onto the starting gig on a week-to-week basis. After increasingly positive pronouncements from head coach Dave Canales, Young was finally declared the full-time starter to close out the season.
The Panthers have backed Young as their starter in 2025, but the maturity and experience Dalton demonstrated last season was worth keeping around. He is entering his 15th season and will turn 38 years old in October, so this could be his last contract. With at least $6MM coming his way, Dalton’s career earnings will be at least $115MM, per OvertheCap, and could reach $120MM if he hits the maximum value of the deal.
Dalton’s extension with the Panthers will keep him from hitting free agency, where he was expected to draw interest in the backup quarterback market. The Dolphins explored trading for Dalton last September, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, and were expected to renew their pursuit if he became available in March. Instead, they will likely pivot to Marcus Mariota, provided the Commanders don’t follow the Panthers’ lead and re-sign their veteran backup.
Dolphins Eyeing Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton?
After cycling through a handful of backup quarterbacks in 2024, the Dolphins are determined to find a capable contingency plan for Tua Tagovailoa. That search could lead them to a former first-round pick, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that the Dolphins could be a suitor for free agent QB Marcus Mariota (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald).
[RELATED: Dolphins To Prioritize Backup QB Job]
Schefter noted the friendship between Mariota and Tagovailoa, plus the lack of state income taxes. While Mariota’s stats have generally been underwhelming throughout his career, he’s shown an ability to keep his team afloat. In 74 career starts, the former second-overall pick has gone 34-40, including a three-year span with the Titans where he finished with a winning record.
Most recently, Mariota has served as a backup in stops with the Raiders, Falcons, Eagles, and Commanders. He did garner 13 starts with Atlanta in 2022, but he’s otherwise been held to a bench role over the past five seasons. Over that span, Mariota has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,977 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He spent the 2024 campaign in Washington, where he tossed four touchdowns in three relief appearances.
Jackson adds another name to Miami’s impending search: Andy Dalton, with the reporter noting that the veteran is “held in high regard” by the organization. Dalton has garnered starts at all of his post-Bengals stops, although that wasn’t always necessarily the plan. The 37-year-old got five starts for the Panthers this past season while filling in for the struggling Bryce Young, with Dalton guiding his squad to only a 1-4 record while tossing seven touchdowns vs. six interceptions.
While the Dolphins pursued “a couple of top-flight backup QBs” last offseason, the team ultimately stuck with Skylar Thompson as their initial QB2 while releasing Mike White from the roster. Thompson only got one start for the Dolphins, as the team also gave Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle looks under center. The trio of backup options represented a clear step back from Tagovailoa, and when the QB1 was sidelined early in the season, the Dolphins were limited to only 40 total points in four games. The Dolphins are clearly looking to avoid a similar situation in 2025.
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.
NFC South Notes: Panthers, Saints, Dennis
Bryce Young may have entered the game in place of Andy Dalton during the Panthers‘ Week 5 loss to the Bears, but head coach Dave Canales told media that Dalton would remain the team’s starting quarterback moving forward.
Canales explained that the quarterback change was more about limiting Dalton’s exposure behind an injured Carolina offensive line than it was about giving Young another opportunity to earn the starting gig, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers lost starting center Austin Corbett and starting right tackle Taylor Moton to injuries during Sunday’s loss, forcing Canales to prioritize Dalton’s health with Carolina trailing by four possessions.
“We had a couple of injuries on the offensive line and wanting to get [Young] in there, get some live reps,” Canales said. “It was something where I wanted to get Andy out of there and just give Bryce an opportunity to continue some football in there while we had time.”
Canales confirmed that Dalton would start for the Panthers in Week 6, though it’s worth noting that he made a similar declaration about Young’s job safety after the former No. 1 overall pick struggled in Week 2 against the Chargers. Canales declined to offer any insight on the Panthers’ long-term plans for Young, and though his history as a quarterback-friendly coach suggests he could still get the best out of his young signal-caller, rumblings about a 2025 trade have surfaced. The Panthers rebuffed four trade inquiries already.
Here is the latest from the NFC South:
- The Saints ruled tight end Taysom Hill out of their Monday night matchup with the Chiefs due to a rib injury. Hill missed the Saints’ Week 3 matchup against the Eagles with a chest injury, but returned to full practice participation the following week. He then sustained fractured ribs against the Falcons in Week 4, sidelining him for Week 5 and potentially beyond. Dennis Allen (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) declined to say how may ribs Hill fractured. Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson will take on a bigger role in New Orleans’ offense with Hill sidelined, but his versatility will be difficult for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to replace. He may have to take some Hill-focused plays out of his playbook entirely with his unique offensive weapon absent from the lineup.
- The Saints‘ offense stunned the NFL with its explosive start to the year, dropping 91 points on their first two opponents before cooling off in Weeks 3 and 4. Head coach Dennis Allen worked with Kubiak to simplify the offense for Derek Carr after years of complexity became ingrained in New Orleans’ system under Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Carr is making fewer adjustments at the line of scrimmage, while Kubiak has dialed up play action at a league-leading frequency.
- Second-year Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis is not expected to return from injured reserve anytime soon, per Greg Auman of The Athletic. Dennis injured his shoulder over the summer but played in Tampa Bay’s first three games before leaving in Week 4 after aggravating the issue. The Buccaneers placed Dennis on IR on October 1, sidelining him through at least Week 8. Tampa Bay has relied on K.J. Britt to take on Dennis’ vacated snaps after the duo began the year splitting time on the field alongside veteran Lavonte David.
- The Falcons restructured the contract of veteran defensive tackle David Onyemata recently, per ESPN’s Field Yates, creating $4.85MM of cap space. Onyemata remains tied to the three-year, $35MM deal he signed in March 2023. This update balloons the DT’s 2025 cap number to $16.93MM. For 2024, however, Atlanta now has just under $10MM in cap space, ranking 20th in the NFL.
David Tepper Signed Off On Benching Bryce Young
So much transpired to land quarterback Bryce Young in Carolina last year. A Panthers team that had struggled to find consistency at quarterback after the departure of Cam Newton decided to shy away from signing more free agents like Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield and draft and develop a passer. They took an opportunity to trade with Chicago into the top spot and made the decision on who would lead their offense in the coming years.
With hindsight being 20/20, it’s easy for outsiders to speculate on the decision-making that led Carolina to take Young instead of C.J. Stroud, who has looked much more accomplished and successful in his first 23 weeks of football (including last year’s playoffs). While it seems crystal-clear at this point who the right decision was, as Young sits on the bench with a 2-16 record as a starter and Stroud continues to start with a 12-7 record, Adam Jahns and Joe Person of The Athletic report that there was very little doubt when the decision was being made.
Team owner David Tepper‘s comments over time have made it clear that Young was the unanimous choice over Stroud with the No. 1 overall pick last year. While there was certainly some intrigue around Stroud, and some argued that the S2 cognitive test — a test that Stroud performed poorly on but Young nearly perfected — was weighted too much, the decision was still a clear one.
General manager at the time, Scott Fitterer reportedly met with then-head coach Frank Reich and the scouting staff shortly after Reich’s hiring. Fitterer went around the table and posed a question to the scouts: if they traded up for the top pick, which quarterback would they choose? All of the scouts chose Young.
Fastforward to today: Young sits on the bench, his opportunities to improve “limited to QB meetings, individual drills, and his snaps running the scout-team offense against the first-team defense.” The leash was short on Young to start the season, but with Carolina scoring only 13 points while giving up 73 in the first two weeks, it was clear a change was necessary, and Tepper signed off on the demotion.
The immediate improvement was obvious. 204 passing yards in the first two weeks was improved to 526 when Andy Dalton took over the offense. With the passing game working, the run game took off, too, improving from 148 yards in the first two contests to 286 in the next two. The team has decreased turnovers by the offense from four under Young to only one under Dalton, and after only scoring 13 points before the change, the Panthers have put a combined 60 on the scoreboard since.
There are still sentiments that Young will be able to return to a starting role at some point, perhaps even this year. For now, though, he’ll get the opportunity that he didn’t get his rookie season to sit behind a seasoned veteran and learn. It’s Dalton’s offense for now, but Young can take this time to develop and earn his way back into the lofty expectations that came with his selection as the first overall pick in 2023.