Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 3

Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the Panthers are benching Bryce Young to start Andy Dalton — beginning with this week’s matchup against the Raiders.

As the story said, after the Week 2 loss HC Dave Canales said, "Bryce is our quarterback." But as the story added, Young has looked overmatched so far this season after struggling to a 2-14 mark last year. Young has completed just 55.4 percent of his throws for 245 yards with three interceptions. His passer rating is 44.1 and he’s averaging just 4.4 yards per attempt. As for Dalton, he's 36 and likely won't be considered a must-acquire fantasy target. But, he will have some weapons to work with in Diontae Johsnon, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette, so he may have some value in deeper superflex leagues.

A bit of a shocker: Panthers are releasing WR Terrace Marshall.

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo

Some who follow the team thought Marshall was having a good camp and potentially turning things around for himself. But, the Panthers paid a lot of attention to the WR position the last couple of years. They traded for Johnson this spring after signing Thielen the previous year. Also this spring, they drafted Legette at the end of the first round, after selecting Mingo the previous season, that left Marshall buried down the depth chart.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Panthers will leave Jonathon Brooks on the non-football injury list for the start of the regular season. That will remove him from the active roster and will leave him ineligible to play in the first four games of the regular season.

Related players: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Mike Boone, Raheem Blackshear, Jaden Shirden

Brooks tore his ACL during his final season at Texas, but the Panthers still selected him in the second round in April, the story said. The story added the team was hoping to have Brooks back by Week 3 or 4, but are taking it slow with him. Hubbard should be the guy to own in terms of fantasy with Sanders also getting his work. Brooks is still expected to be back, and is very likely to take over the RB1 role at some point soon after his return.

It’s a “mild calf injury” for Jaguars WR Christian Kirk, per Doug Pederson. He won’t practice vs Bucs today.

Related Players: Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington

Doesn't seem like anything too serious but also seems like Kirk won't be practicing for the rest of the week. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but no reason to push Kirk down your draft boards quite yet.

Via Joe Person of TheAthletic.com, first-round rookie receiver Xavier Legette is back on the field after missing a few practices with a foot injury.

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen

The Panthers traded up to pick Legette with the 32nd selection in the first round. He's expected to slide into the WR3 role, assuming he can get back up to speed, behind Johnson and Thielen.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette left practice early Sunday with an apparent lower-leg injury.

As said by head coach Dave Canales, Legette was evaluated as a precautionary measure, and X-rays came back negative. Legette will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. This is already multiple injuries Legette has dealt with this offseason. He also had a hamstring issue in June. Legette can currently be had for a bargain in drafts.

Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will hopefully be ready to play by Week 3 or 4.

That’s at least the hope from head coach Dave Canales. Brooks is still recovering from
His torn ACL suffered last year while at Texas. The Panthers selected Brooks in the second round of the draft. While Brooks is out, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders will handle rushing duties but Brooks should eventually take center stage once he is healthy. We currently have Brooks as a flex option heading into drafts. The Panthers open the season September 8 at New Orleans.

Panthers placed veteran RB Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list Tuesday. The 28-year-old Penny played five years for the Seahawks and spent last season with the Eagles.

Related players: Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders

Penny barely saw action last year with the Eagles coming off a strong half season with the Seahawks back in 2022, this was despite the Eagles need for a bigger, bruising back. This season in Carolina, Penny was likely well behind the rookie Brooks, Hubbard and Sanders in the Panther backfield.

It has been a bit of a slow start for Brian Thomas Jr., but he looked the best he has all camp on Monday.

Related players: Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis

The story went on to say there are still areas of his game that have to be ironed out, but it is clear that when the Jaguars let Thomas do what he is best at, he can make plays. Thomas has a chance to jump right into the team's WR2 role behind Kirk, however, Davis is lurking on the depth chart as well. Thomas is 36th on our WR list and is a middle-round target for those looking to add him.

Panthers signed former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers, where he was with Carolina HC Dave Canales.

Related Players: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Terrace Marshall

Thompkins could have a long road to make the team after being released by the Buccaneers earlier this offseason. The former Utah State Aggie was taken as a UDFA in 2022, and has 35 total targets through his first two seasons.