CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers had hoped that Bryce Young would put an end to their ever-churning quarterback carousel when they selected him No. 1 overall last year.
But two games into his second season, Young has been benched and the Panthers are back to another journeyman quarterback. The 36-year-old Andy Dalton will take over the offense on Sunday when the Panthers (0-2) visit the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity,” Dalton said with a big smile. “When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited about what’s ahead. It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it and it’s hard for everybody. But for me, I’m looking forward to it.”
This may be Dalton's wish, but it wasn't the Panthers'.
They wanted — in fact, needed — Young to succeed after giving up four draft picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to move up eight spots in the draft to get him. But Young is 2-16 as an NFL starter with more interceptions than touchdowns and the fan base has grown irritable and apathetic following the constant losing.
No team has a worse record (31-70) than the Panthers since 2018.
It's no coincidence Carolina's struggles began shortly after shoulder and ankle injuries caught up with franchise quarterback Cam Newton in 2016. The Panthers made the playoffs in 2017, but lost in the first round.
They haven't been back since.
And the quarterback issue has been an issue ever since.
The Panthers have tried a number of options along the way, including several reclamation projects.
They signed free-agent Teddy Bridgewater and traded for former top draft picks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Ten different quarterbacks have started for the Panthers since 2018, including Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier and P.J. Walker.
Dalton, now 36, started a game last year for Carolina as an injury replacement for Young.
The 14-year NFL veteran completed 34 of 58 pass attempts for 361 yards and two touchdowns, but the Panthers lost 37-27 at Seattle. Still, it was the best the offense looked all season.
Now Dalton gets another shot, this time in an offense under new head coach and play caller Dave Canales.
“I think the way we build things and the way we do things if you can get the ball out of your hands and make quick decisions and play with timing and accuracy and anticipation, all that kind of stuff," Dalton said. “There’s a lot of that in this offense.”
Canales said he benched the struggling Young because he felt Dalton “gives us the best chance to win" after Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Frankly, the bar isn't all that high.
The Panthers have been outscored 73-13 this season, including 53-3 in the first half of two games. Dalton is clearly viewed as a stopgap until the Panthers figure out what to do next at the quarterback position.
“After I watched the film, I had a thought in mind. We talked and I had to make the decision that was best for the team,″ Canales said. “I certainly take it personal. This is about building a culture, this is about building a football team that plays to a certain style, and that’s my main focus."
He added, “And above all, it’s to help the Panthers to win. So that’s what the decision was about."
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce didn’t know about the Panthers QB change on Monday until he was told by reporters.
“A veteran quarterback," Pierce said of Dalton. “We just had some meetings, but hmmm, I’ve got to go back to the drawing boards now.”
Dalton was all smiles on Monday.
“I think at this point in my career, I’m just thankful for an opportunity. I didn’t know if I was going to get it again. So, I’m fired up, I’m pumped to get a chance to do what I’ve done my whole career,” Dalton said. “I’ve been in this position before and I am able to have conversations and I think just the experience I’ve had in this league for a long time resonates with a lot of people, when I’m able to say certain things.”
AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sept. 24, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/ John Froschauer, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Eric Wagaman scored with one out in the 13th inning when Jordyn Adams' grounder deflected off the glove of third baseman Miguel Vargas, and the Los Angeles Angels dealt the Chicago White Sox their 117th loss, rallying for a 4-3 victory on Wednesday.
Instead of winning consecutive series for the first time in four months, the White Sox tied the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics for the third most losses since 1900.
Chicago (36-117) needs to go 7-2 in its final nine games to avoid the post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. The 2003 Detroit Tigers hold the American League mark with 119 losses.
It doesn't get easier for the White Sox, who begin a three-game series at San Diego on Friday. The Padres hold the first NL wild card spot but have closed within 3 1/2 games of the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
“We get the same question every day, we're focused on one series at a time and one game at a time. Everything else is irrelevant right now,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “It's going to be a hard series (in San Diego). They're playing for something and we have to play our best ball to have a chance.”
After the series in San Diego, the White Sox close the season with a six-game homestand against the Angels (Sept. 24-26) and Detroit Tigers (Sept. 27-29).
The Angels had the bases loaded in the 10th and 12th innings, but were finally able to walk it off in the 13th.
“We had opportunities throughout the game to do something, we just couldn’t stretch that run, especially in extra innings. But we kept going and finally caught a break,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.
Wagaman was the automatic runner on second base and advanced to third on Logan O'Hoppe's ground ball to right field. With the infield drawn in, Adams hit a sharp grounder off Jairo Iriarte (0-1) that Vargas wasn't able to field cleanly, giving the Angels their fifth walk off victory of the season.
“I was just trying to put it in play and give the runner at third a chance to score,” Adams said.
The White Sox had the bases loaded with two out in the 13th, but José Quijada (2-0) struck out Yoán Moncada to end the frame. It was Moncada's his first big league at-bat since April 9. He was activated from the 60-day injured list on Monday after missing five months because of a left adductor strain.
The game went into extra innings tied at one. Each team scored in the 10th as Chicago’s Korey Lee scored on Vargas’ sacrifice fly and Los Angeles’ Gustavo Campero had an RBI base hit.
The teams again traded runs in the 11th on RBI singles by the White Sox Andrew Benintendi and Wagaman.
Andrew Vaughn led off the fourth inning with his team-tying 19th home run. The designated hitter — who is 7 for 20 with two homers during a five-game hitting streak — drove an elevated, inside sinker from Halos starter Jack Kochanowicz into the bullpens in left field as he went deep for the second time in the series.
The White Sox have hit nine home runs over the last five games after recording just six in the previous 13 contests.
The Angels evened it in the eighth when Taylor Ward's line drive went off the glove of White Sox shortstop Nicky Lopez and into left field to drive in Zach Neto.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF Mickey Moniak (left hand) did not start for the third straight day, but came in as a pinch runner in the 11th inning.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Garrett Crochet (6-12, 3.78 ERA) takes the mound on Friday to start a three-game series at San Diego.
Angels: Head to Houston for a four-game weekend series. LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80) makes his second start of the season on Thursday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Prelander Berroa leaves the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Jack López applies sunscreen before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Eric Wagaman applies sunscreen before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Chicago White Sox first base coach/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois (38) is reflected in the glasses of third baseman Bryan Ramos in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Jack López throws to first to out Chicago White Sox's Lenyn Sosa during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Chicago White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets (32) tags out Los Angeles Angels' Jordyn Adams (39) at first base during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Chicago White Sox designated hitter Andrew Vaughn celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels' Eric Wagaman (34) scores off of a walk-off single hit by Jordyn Adams during the thirteenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The Angels won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels' Jordyn Adams (39) celebrates after a walk-off single during the thirteenth inning to win 4-3 over the Chicago White Sox in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Angels' Jordyn Adams is doused after a walk-off single to win 4-3 against the Chicago White Sox in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
