Panthers start Bryce Young against Broncos while Andy Dalton recovers from car accident

The Carolina Panthers are handing the keys back to their franchise quarterback.

Panthers coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that Young will start Sunday’s Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. The decision comes a day after quarterback Andy Dalton and his family were in a car accident in the Charlotte area. Dalton suffered a sprained thumb in the accident.

“Bryce will play for us this week,” Canales said. “We will be checking on Andy every day until this weekend to see if we can qualify him as a trainer [backup quarterback] on Sunday.

Caneles also confirmed that Dalton and everyone else involved in Tuesday’s car accident is doing well

Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, will start his first game since Week 2. In four appearances (two starts) this season, the 23-year-old quarterback has completed 56.9% of his pass attempts for 299 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions – for a passer rating of 49.5.

Dalton went 1-4 in the Panthers’ last five games, throwing for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions and posting an 82.0 passer rating.

The Panthers’ matchup against the Broncos is scheduled to begin at 4:25 p.m. ET in Denver.