Quarterback Bryce Young had a trying rookie season in the NFL. But better days are ahead for the former Alabama All-American, said Andy Dalton, his backup with the Carolina Panthers.
After the Panthers picked Young at No. 1 in last year’s draft, Carolina posted a 2-15 record, fired coach Frank Reich 11 games into the campaign and got their rookie quarterback sacked 62 times.
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“I thought he handled it well,” Dalton said on CBS Sports Radio’s “The Jim Rome Show” on Tuesday. “He’s never in his life had a season like that and had to handle the adversity that he had to deal with. It was a tough year. And then you throw in losing your head coach after 11 games and changes on offense and all the things that went into it, it was tough. And so for him, I thought he handled it well, and I kept telling him, just like, ‘Stay the course. This thing is going to get better. It’s going to improve.’
“And I think what we’ve done this offseason, bringing in some guys, bringing in a couple of guards on the offensive line, different things, trading for Diontae Johnson, I think it’s getting built the right way where it’s going to set him up to have a better year.”
This offseason in free agency, Carolina signed guards Robert Hunt from the Miami Dolphins and Damien Lewis from the Seattle Seahawks.
A 1,000-yard receiver and Pro Bowler in 2021, Johnson joined the Panthers from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick.
“Last year was, obviously, a big growing year for him,” Dalton said of Young. “He learned a lot. He had to handle a lot of adversity. But it’s been a fun room to be in. It’s been great to be a part of it with Bryce. Bryce, he’s built the right way. He’s got a great head on his shoulders. I think this year’s going to be big for him.”
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In 13 NFL seasons, Dalton has started 163 regular-season games. But in 2023, he started only one, the fewest of his career. Young missed the third game of the season because of an ankle injury.
Dalton said it’s tough being a backup after spending so long as an NFL starter, and he’s confident he still could be one.
“I don’t think there’s 32 that are better than me,” Dalton said. “You don’t play this long if you don’t have that mindset.”
But Dalton knows why the Panthers signed him.
“I’m just trying to bring that experience to Bryce, help him out in any way that I can,” Dalton said. “Tell him how I see things when we get into these meetings, help him on the field, all the stuff that goes into it.”
The Panthers started their offseason program on Monday under new coach Dave Canales. Canales came aboard after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.