CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Andy Dalton met with the Charlotte media on his first day as starting quarterback Monday afternoon, the 36-year-old could barely contain his excitement. It was the kind of energy and passion the Carolina Panthers were hoping to see more of from Bryce Young.

“I’m just grateful for an opportunity. I wasn’t sure I was going to get it again,” said Dalton, the former Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals. “So I’m excited. I’m pumped. I get a chance to do what I’ve done my whole career.”

The Panthers made a seismic move Monday by benching Young, whom they drafted No. 1 last year after trading two first-round picks, two second-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the pick. The announcement came less than 24 hours after first-year coach Dave Canales said, “Bryce is our quarterback,” when asked if Young would remain the starter.

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Canales apparently had an epiphany after watching film of Young’s performance in a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, statistically the worst of Young’s short career. Canales spoke with general manager Dan Morgan, executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis and a few of his assistant coaches.

Asked what role owner David Tepper played, Canales said he wanted to keep that private. But Tepper has said he has offered advice on big decisions; benching last year’s No. 1 pick after two games in his second season would qualify.

“There’s definitely a lot of parties involved. Ultimately, this comes down to me. And my biggest responsibility is to help the Panthers win,” Canales said. “So this move, I think, gives us the best chance to do that.”

Forget winning, the Panthers weren’t even competitive in their first two games under Canales, losing by a combined 60 points to the New Orleans Saints and Chargers. Young’s numbers were abysmal: no touchdown passes, three interceptions and an NFL-worst 44.1 passer rating.

Andy Dalton is happy with the opportunity, but also makes the situation difficult for everyone. photo.twitter.com/8fBgv5K1iU

— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 16, 2024

Young’s EPA (expected points added) rate per dropback was the worst of his career on Sunday, when he threw for a career-low 84 yards and didn’t complete a pass longer than 12 yards. He barely attempted one that long.

And after throwing an interception in the middle of the field in the second half (just like last week), Young’s shoulders slumped and his body language was suspect the rest of the game. Young, elected captain for the first time two weeks ago, is the anti-Cam in terms of energy. That’s not his personality, and it’s not why he was benched.

But if you listened closely to Canales’ press conference on Monday, among his “best decision for the team” non-answers was a reference to what’s often referred to in NFL locker rooms as “juice.”

“I owe it to all the guys — the coaches, the staff, the players, everyone involved — to really be critical of what we put on film, what I see and make sure I’m making the best decision for the team every week. It just happens to be the quarterback position, so it’s loaded that way,” Canales said.

“But it’s every position. It’s all the guys. I was able to get in front of the team and challenge all the guys that we all have to increase our passion for what we do and play with the style of play that we’re looking for.”

Canales comes from Pete Carroll’s coaching tree, which radiates energy like a maple tree radiates sap. And if you’ve watched any of Canales’ press conferences (except Monday’s) or seen video of him jogging around the practice field in his “smedium” dri-fits, you know he’s all about positive mojo.

“It’s about building a culture. It’s about building a football team that plays with a certain style of play,” he said. “And that’s my main focus.”

It’s also about accountability. And if Canales were to continue to accept subpar quarterback play, he would invite disharmony in the locker room and more episodes like Adam Thielen’s sideline tantrum.

By benching the potential franchise QB after 18 starts, everyone’s attention was drawn to a team that looked sluggish and uninterested and had been blown out in the first two weeks.

“It lets everybody know that anything can happen,” linebacker Josey Jewell said. “And if you don’t play well enough or don’t live up to somebody’s standards or don’t have enough energy, everybody’s replaceable.”

In speaking with reporters, Canales never viewed the QB change as temporary or a mental break for the 23-year-old Young.

The Panthers’ best passing day last season came in Seattle (coincidentally in Week 3) when Dalton started in place of the injured Young. If Dalton plays well, Young’s time in Charlotte could be over. He would join a long list of QBs the Panthers have had since Tepper bought the team, several of whom (Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold) have found success elsewhere.

There’s no question the Panthers failed Young, especially during a chaotic rookie season that included a midseason coaching change and repeated flip-flopping at the offensive play caller position. Young was also battered behind a turnstile offensive line that had 62 sacks and receivers who couldn’t get open.

Last year seemed to make its mark on the 5-foot-10 Young, whose footwork and route progressions have regressed this year despite better protection from a rebuilt line. The receiving corps still lacks a true No. 1.

Given the way Young has been playing, this move felt inevitable, though I had expected it to happen sometime in Week 4 or 5. Instead, it came 508 days after the Panthers selected Young over C.J. Stroud with the first pick in the 2023 draft.

And while Dalton was excited about his promotion on Monday, he also felt bad about Young’s demotion. But Dalton also has confidence that the former Alabama quarterback will do well, wherever and however that looks.

“He came up with it the right way. Who knows what’s going to happen?” Dalton said. “But I know he has the right character traits to know what he believes in. And that’s going to take him far beyond this point now.”

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)