Panthers News
[the_ad id=”105842″]Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton is expected to start in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills after Bryce Young suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets.
Young twisted his right ankle while taking a sack late in the third quarter of the Panthers’ 13-6 win at MetLife Stadium. He left the game and did not return. An MRI on Monday revealed the high ankle sprain, which typically carries a recovery timeline of two to four weeks. Panthers head coach Dave Canales listed Young as day-to-day but acknowledged the team would prepare as if Dalton would start Sunday’s home game against Buffalo.
“We should all approach it that way, and then we’ll make the decision that day just on the physical ability of Bryce,” Canales said Monday.
Dalton completed four of seven passes for 60 yards after entering the game in the fourth quarter. All four completions went to second-year wide receiver Xavier Legette, who finished the game with career highs of nine receptions and 92 yards, plus one touchdown. Legette caught five passes on 11 targets from both quarterbacks during the Jets game.
The 37-year-old Dalton made five starts for Carolina in 2024 after Young was benched early in the season. Over that span, Dalton completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 989 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He averaged 197.8 passing yards per start before a thumb injury from a car accident in late October ended his starting stretch.
Dalton has developed strong chemistry with Legette dating to last season. In their time together on the field across two seasons, Legette has caught 27 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in seven games when Dalton has been at quarterback.
“One thing, I feel like you just got to give him a chance to make some plays,” Dalton said of Legette on Sunday. “There’s not very many people like him with his size and strength and everything that he can do and we haven’t seen the best of X yet.”
The Panthers will also have rookie first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan available for Dalton. The former Arizona receiver was selected eighth overall in the 2025 draft and leads the team’s receiving corps. McMillan has caught 30 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns through seven games this season.
Carolina enters Week 8 with a 4-3 record following three consecutive victories. The Panthers sit in second place in the NFC South. Buffalo comes to Bank of America Stadium with a 4-2 record after losses in consecutive weeks to New England and Atlanta.
The Bills’ defense allowed 158 receiving yards to Atlanta’s Drake London in their Week 6 Monday night loss. Buffalo ranks second in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game at 154 yards.
Young missed one game with a similar high ankle sprain during his rookie season in 2023. The Panthers signed veteran quarterback Mike White to the practice squad Tuesday to add depth at the position during Young’s absence.
Dalton Impact
Once this is confirmed, our team will likely make changes to our Week 8 Rankings and NFL Picks. Until then, we’re awaiting confirmation.
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