Bryce Young reportedly never saw his benching coming.
The 2023 No. 1 pick found himself relegated to backup duties following Carolina's 0-2 start to the 2024 NFL season. Andy Dalton proceeded to lead the team to a 36-22 victory in Week 3 and appears to have a hold over the starting role for the foreseeable future.
While the move appears to be best for the Panthers, David Newton of ESPN reported that Young was "surprised" and "blindsided" by the decision.
This reaction is understandable. Panthers head coach Dave Canales had said that Young was "our quarterback" just a day before making the switch.