Tag: Dave Canales

Panthers HC Dave Canales explains why he has yet to name starting QB for Week 10

Panthers HC Dave Canales hasn’t named his starting QB for Week 10 just yet. Here’s why:

Picking, or at least announcing, a starting quarterback may not be as cut and dry for the Carolina Panthers as some may think.

Just as the case was right after yesterday’s 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints, head coach Dave Canales did not name his team’s Week 10 starting quarterback on Monday. He remained non-committal about publicly choosing between veteran Andy Dalton and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who led the Panthers to their second victory of the season in Week 9.

“So we’re working through it right now,” Canales told reporters this afternoon. “Still just tryin’ to make sure we think about all the things that go into it, make sure we’re all on the same page, communicating that and we’ll make a decision in the next couple days.”

The 2-7 Panthers are set to travel to Germany to “host” the 2-7 New York Giants this weekend. Young, the starter for the last two outings, has taken some positive steps forward since his benching and seems to be the favorite to stick under center.

Canales was then asked if keeping the choice under wraps may also be a bit of gamesmanship on Carolina’s part.

“It’s both, it’s all of it,” he replied. “It’s just making sure that we make the right decision first for all for us, but then also, just making sure–there’s a component of it too, like the sooner (the Giants) know who they’re game planning for, the sooner they can get it.

“So, there’s no competitive advantage to making that decision. But mostly, it’s just about us taking all the information that we have right now.”

Over the past two weeks in the starting lineup, Young completed 63.5 percent of his throws for 395 yards, three touchdowns and three picks.

Dalton’s last start came in Week 7, where he threw for 93 yards and two interceptions in a 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales ‘really optimistic’ about status of RB Jonathon Brooks

Panthers HC Dave Canales on RB Jonathon Brooks: “We got a real critical decision to make with him this week.”

It’s crunch time on Jonathon Brooks’ 2024 season.

The Carolina Panthers have until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday to move the rookie running back to the 53-man roster. If they decide not to activate Brooks, who is working his way back from a torn ACL he sustained last November, his campaign will officially be over.

So, with that decision having to be made within the next 48 hours, head coach Dave Canales was asked about the current status of the team’s second-round pick this afternoon.

“Really optimistic about Jonathon, as far as just the week that he had,” Canales stated on Monday. “We got a real critical decision to make with him this week, really on Wednesday. So, Brooks and Jaden Crumedy will be the two decision we gotta make this week, whether we feel like it’s time for them to come up.”

Crumedy, Brooks’ fellow 2024 draftee, also has yet to make his NFL debut due to an ankle injury.

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Panthers still don’t commit to a starting QB for Week 10 matchup vs. Giants

The Panthers still haven’t decided if it’ll be Bryce Young or Andy Dalton under center in Week 10.

The Carolina Panthers still haven’t settled on a starting quarterback for their trip to Germany.

Head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday that the team has not officially decided on who will start under center in the Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants.

“So we’re working through it right now,” Canales stated this afternoon. “Still just tryin’ to make sure we think about all the things that go into it, make sure we’re all on the same page, communicating that and we’ll make a decision in the next couple days.”

Second-year quarterback and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young got the nod in yesterday’s 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints. Young completed 16 of his 26 attempts for 171 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and led the first game-winning touchdown drive of his NFL career.

Week 9 marked Young’s second appearance back in the starting lineup since being benched for 14th-year veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton, who injured his right thumb in a minor car accident ahead of Week 8, passed for 93 yards and two interceptions in his last contest.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales gives his thoughts on Bryce Young’s triumphant Week 9 performance

Panthers HC Dave Canales called Bryce Young’s Week 9 performance a “great step.”

There’s still a deep dive to be had on Monday, but Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales liked what he saw out of quarterback Bryce Young on Sunday.

Young helped push the Panthers to a thrilling upset victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, as he led the first game-winning touchdown drive of his career en route to a 23-22 triumph. Canales was asked to assess his 23-year-old passer’s performance in his post-game press conference.

“Solid,” he replied. “I gotta look at the whole thing, gotta watch the film and all that stuff. But he came up big in some critical moments, and gave us an opportunity a couple of times. So, again, just proud of the step that he took again. Just taking all the things we’re askin’ him to do, getting us to the right place at the right time. So, great step.”

After a relatively solid showing against a tough Denver Broncos defense last week, Young carried over his efficiency and poise to this afternoon. He completed 16 of his 26 attempts for 171 yards, a touchdown and an interception that was to no fault of his own.

That game-winning drive came with the Panthers down 22-17 at the 3:26 mark of the fourth quarter. Four plays and 64 yards later, Carolina hit the end zone on a 16-yard rush from running back Chuba Hubbard.

The victory is now the third of Young’s career as a starter.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales doesn’t commit to Bryce Young as Week 10 starter

Even after a triumphant showing in Week 9, Panthers HC Dave Canales isn’t ready to name Bryce Young as the starting QB for Week 10.

Did Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young do enough in Sunday’s triumphant outing to secure the starting nod over Andy Dalton next week? We’ll soon find out.

Head coach Dave Canales faced that inevitable question following his team’s 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints, where Young came through with his second straight positive performance. But, as expected, we’re still a little ways away from learning the answer.

“Not yet,” Canales replied when asked if he’s ready to name Young as the Week 10 starter. “We’ll take in all the information, watch the film, we gotta process. We gotta make sure we look at all this stuff, and we’ll let you guys know in the next couple days.”

Young—who completed 16 of his 26 throws for 171 yards, a score and an interception—orchestrated the first game-winning touchdown drive of his career this afternoon. He led the Panthers on a four-play, 64-yard possession, one that ended in a 16-yard visit to the end zone by running back Chuba Hubbard, to give them a 23-22 lead at the 2:18 mark of the fourth quarter.

Over the past two weeks, Young has connected on 63.5 percent of his passes for 395 yards, three touchdowns and three picks.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales provides injury updates on Jonathon Brooks, Adam Thielen

Panthers HC Dave Canales offered updates on the progress of RB Jonathon Brooks, WR Adam Thielen and OLB D.J. Wonnum heading into Week 9.

The Carolina Panthers will probably be without a few notable names on offense this Sunday.

Friday’s injury report for the team’s Week 9 contest against the New Orleans Saints already lists starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu as out due to ankle issue. In addition, wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) and rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) have been designated as doubtful and questionable, respectively.

Head coach Dave Canales provided a bit more context on Thielen and Brooks—as well as outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who is recovering from his offseason quadriceps surgeries.

“The guys stacked really solid weeks,” Canales stated this afternoon. “We’re gathering all that information. And we’ll go through this weekend probably without those guys—we’re talkin’ about Brooks, we’re talkin’ about Wonnum, we’re talkin’ about Thielen.

“So guys that are certainly trending towards where we know where they can help us. But wanna be completely sure for the guys and for the team.”

Brooks has until Nov. 6 to be activated to the roster while Thielen has until Nov. 13.

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Panthers players react to trade of WR Diontae Johnson

A handful of Panthers praised former teammate Diontae Johnson on Wednesday.

The Carolina Panthers lost not only their leading receiver on Tuesday, but a well-respected teammate.

In what seemed like an imminent move, wideout Diontae Johnson was traded by the Panthers on Tuesday. The former Pro Bowl pass catcher is off to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a late-round pick swap in the 2025 NFL draft.

Here’s what some of Johnson’s now-former teammates had to say about the move on Wednesday . . .

When asked to provide some insight into the decision, head coach Dave Canales didn’t offer much.

“I’m not gonna get into too much of the specifics,” Canales stated. “A lot of those conversations, we always wanna try to protect and keep in-house. But we kinda just collectively thought that was the best decision for us.”

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Dave Canales is asked why the Panthers traded WR Diontae Johnson

Panthers HC Dave Canales on Tuesday’s trade of WR Diontae Johnson: “We kinda just collectively thought that was the best decision for us.”

When wide receiver Diontae Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers this offseason, he admitted that he didn’t know who the team’s head coach was. Well, it turns out that it was the head coach who hardly knew Johnson.

The 28-year-old pass catcher is now out of Charlotte, after just seven months as a member of the Panthers. Johnson, perhaps unsurprisingly, was shipped off to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday—a move head coach Dave Canales would be asked about this afternoon.

“Dan [Morgan], Brandt [Tilis] and I just talked about the different opportunities that came up and we just kind of collected all the information and made the best decision for all of us,” Canales stated.

Johnson leaves Carolina as the team’s leading receiver, as he amassed 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns over his seven outings. Coming back in exchange for Johnson is a pretty underwhelming return—one that’ll also see the Panthers pay the majority of his remaining salary for a late-round pick swap.

So, why such a small price for such a productive player?

The Athletic‘s Joe Person asked Canales precisely that.

“Joe, I’m not gonna get into too much of the specifics,” he replied. “A lot of those conversations, we always wanna try to protect and keep in-house. But we kinda just collectively thought that was the best decision for us.”

Johnson, meanwhile, is adjusting to his new digs . . .

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Panthers HC Dave Canales explains decision to start QB Bryce Young in Week 9

Panthers HC Dave Canales named Bryce Young as the team’s starting QB for Week 9. He explained why on Wednesday afternoon.

Bryce Young, for at least one more week, will be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

On Wednesday, head coach Dave Canales announced that Young will start under center for Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints. This will be Young’s second straight nod back in the lineup since being benched at the beginning of Week 3.

Canales explained his decision to go with Young over veteran Andy Dalton, who continues to recover from his sprained right thumb.

“So, he [Young] took the reps with the ones today,” he stated. “Andy is progressing. He was out there throwing. And I just really looked at all the things and for me, I just erred on the side of caution and wanted get Andy in the best possible situation to be able to make a decision going forward.

“Also, I’m excited for Bryce—to have an opportunity to build off some of the things that he did last week. Certainly, things to work on, but a lot of good stuff that he did too.”

Young was relatively decent in Week 8’s 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos—as he completed 24 of his 37 throws for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Those 224 net passing yards, by the way, were the most by a quarterback against Denver all season.

Canales was then asked what he hopes Young will build on heading into this next opportunity.

“Some of the rhythmic throws,” he replied. “First drive—just kinda finding a good mix and balance of it. For me, again, this is an opportunity to continue to find the things that he’s confident with. He found some nice completions throughout, here and there, and then finished with a really nice drive that I thought—obviously, the game was out of hand—but at the same time, we were competing to find wins in those moments.”

The Panthers will continue to take their quarterback choice week by week, as Canales stopped short of committing to either as the starter for the remainder of the campaign.

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