LeBron James defends Bryce Young after benching: "This isn't your fault!"
The Panthers suffered a defeat in their first two games with a total score of 73-13.
The Panthers replaced 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young with 37-year-old Andy Dalton on Monday, two games into the season.
LeBron James publicly supported Young after being benched by the Los Angeles Lakers.
James posted on Tuesday: "Bryce Young, keep your head up! We're rooting for you and know this isn't your fault. Keep working hard and it will pay off!"
Young struggled the first two weeks of the season.
In the season opener against the New Orleans Saints, the 23-year-old Panthers quarterback threw an interception on the first pass of his season, resulting in a 47-10 loss for the team. Despite completing 13 out of 30 passes for 161 yards and two interceptions, Young struggled throughout the game.
The following week was not improved for the ex-Alabama quarterback. He passed for only 84 yards and an interception in the Panthers' 26-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers.
In his first year, Young passed for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 16 games, but the Panthers still lost 12 games.
The Panthers are 2-16 in Young's 18 career starts.
Last season, Young was injured and missed one game, during which Dalton stepped in and threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite being only two weeks into a new offensive system, the Panthers have decided to cut ties with second-year quarterback Young, as new head coach Dave Canales only played him for one series in the preseason.
The 2021 Heisman winner was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, at a cost to the Carolina Panthers.
The team traded away wide receiver DJ Moore, a 2023 first-round pick (used on OT Darnell Wright), a 2023 second-round pick (used on CB Tyrique Stevenson), a 2024 first-round pick (used on QB Caleb Williams) and a 2025 second-round pick.
All four of those players are starting for the Bears.
On Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders will face the Panthers, with Dalton aiming to guide his team to their first victory.
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