Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will miss at least one week due to an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets.
Young suffered a high ankle sprain, an MRI revealed, and is expected to miss the Week 8 game versus the Buffalo Bills, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday, per sources informed of the injury.
It's possible the injury could knock him out longer given the nature of high ankle sprains.
In the interim, veteran Andy Dalton is expecdted to take over under center for the 4-3 Panthers, who sit in second place in the NFC South.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales described Young later Monday as day to day with his ankle injury, and declined to rule him out for Week 8. Canales said he did not want to get into specifics regarding Young's issue, calling it simply an ankle injury.
Young exited late in the third quarter after appearing to get stepped on by a defender. He slowly walked to the locker room and was eventually ruled out.
It's been a rollercoaster season for Young, but he's shown more ups than downs in the Panthers' three-game win streak. When he doesn't turn the ball over, the former No. 1 pick has displayed the ability to keep the offense in good position and make necessary throws. His touchdown pass on Sunday against the Jets, in which he bought time outside the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield and not panicking, showed the type of growth we've seen this season.
Behind a bulldozing ground game, a much-improved defense and Young's heady play, the Panthers are above .500 through seven games for the first time since 2019. That campaign unraveled quickly and Ron Rivera was fired midseason.
The hope is that Dalton can keep the ship afloat.
In relief in Week 7, the veteran wasn't asked to do much. He completed 4 of 7 attempts for 60 yards on four drives as Carolina earned four first downs and punted three times. He did ice the game with a pretty 33-yard lob to Xavier Legette.
Dalton made five starts last season for a benched Young. He completed 106 of 159 attempts for 989 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions as the Panthers went 1-5 in those starts. A car accident knocked him out, and Young took the reins back and never let go.
One thing should be certain with Dalton under center against a Bills squad that has struggled to stop the run: Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard should get saddled up often.
