A player viewed by most teams as the top QB in the 2023 draft, Young has gone 2-16 as a starter in his career — completing just 59 percent of his passes with more interceptions than touchdowns. The Panthers offense has appeared to stagnate, allowing a league-worst 245 passing yards through two games.

Young has earned praise for his ability to handle the entire 2023 pre-draft process, among other skills that have earned him the nickname of a top QB. But that hasn’t played out on the field in the NFL.

To those who observed him closely, Young held the ball, refused to throw a pass downfield and seemed to second guess decisions. To those who studied him closely, Young seemed overwhelmed.

So the decision was made to step back and serve as their backup as the answer. The Panthers still believe Young can be the guy. They still think he can be the player they drafted him to be. But the road to an established starter isn’t always straight. The NFL is full of examples of players who took more than a minute to become true starters.

Jordan Love, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, who began the 2022 season as Carolina’s starter before being fired, are among the examples in today’s NFL.

When someone as talented as Young is on the bench, teams are always calling about a potential trade. In fact, you’d expect there to be interest. But Canales said Wednesday that there are no plans to trade him, saying, “That’s not something we’re really considering.”

Inside the building, sources say Young handled the demotion well. He was disappointed and frustrated, of course. But he got back to work, helping Dalton get ready and serving as the scout team’s QB. Young let loose with the scout team in a way they hope he will when he gets back on the field.

“Bryce has been great,” Dalton said. “It’s a tough situation for everybody. I have a different perspective because I’ve felt it on both sides. It’s tough, but you find the little things that you can focus on to get better and you keep doing what you can do.”