Carolina Panthers On The Hunt For New Quarterback Ahead of 2024 Season

The Carolina Panthers are officially searching for a new quarterback to add to their roster after it was revealed that backup QB Andy Dalton was suffering from a quad injury.

The Panthers are still set with their starting signal caller in second-year QB Bryce Young, but they are now looking to round out the depth of that room as they currently only have one other QB on the roster.

Carolina Panthers QB Andy Dalton is vital to the organization

Despite being a 36-year-old veteran backup QB, Dalton’s presence on the Panthers is vital to the organization as well as the development of a young QB like Bryce Young.

Dalton himself explained that he told Young to keep his head up going into 2024. Dalton, who has experienced extremely difficult NFL seasons like Young experienced in 2023, said the organization helped Young a bit more in an article from CBS Sports.

“I thought he handled it well, and I kept telling him [Young], just stay the course. This thing is going to get better. It’s going to improve,” Dalton said. “And I think what we have done this offseason, bringing in some guys, bringing in a couple guards on the offensive line, different things, trading for Diontae Johnson, I think it’s getting built the right way where, yeah, it’s going to set him up to have a better year.”

The Panthers are working to get Dalton back so he can continue to fill that role during the season, but his vital on-field presence will be missed while he recovers in the weeks leading up to the season.

Andy Dalton’s injury gave third-string QB Jack Plummer a bigger opportunity with the Carolina Panthers

While the Panthers are working to get Dalton back, his absence isn’t all bad for the future of the organization. His injury allowed undrafted third-string quarterback Jack Plummer to get more looks with the offense.

Dalton did not suit up for the Fan Fest practice, allowing Plummer to get way more practice with the offense than he would’ve otherwise. New head coach Dave Canales explained how the injury affected Plummer in an article from WFXRTV.

“Andy’s got a quad injury right now, so we’re just trying to get him back. I’m not sure exactly of the timeline. It’s a couple of weeks, but we’ll work him through it and it was good for Jack Plummer to get out there to get those reps. Started off that first possession missed a couple of open guys high, it’s part of the jitters. It’s so good to just see him work through that, settle himself, and start making plays.”

“Jack’s going to play a lot and then we’re still working through getting another quarterback here for the time-being while we don’t have Andy,” Canales stated.

The Carolina Panthers need a QB for preseason games

While the absence of single QB doesn’t seem catastrophic on the surface, it can cause more troubles than one might realize as the Panthers head into the preseason.

The Panthers’ first preseason game against he New England Patriots is a week from Thursday and Carolina plans to keep Young on a pitch count. When Young’s pitch count is combined with Dalton’s absence, Plummer would be forced to play nearly the entire preseason game.

According to Sharp Football Analysis, notable QBs that are still available free agents include:

• Ryan Tannehill
• Trevor Siemian
• Blaine Gabbert
• A.J. McCarron
• Brian Hoyer
• Kellen Mond
• Ben DiNucci

Some fans joked that now-retired former Panthers QB Cam Newton should fill Dalton’s spot as a short-term, veteran QB.

So you’re saying the #Panthers need a short-term, vet QB with Andy Dalton injured?

(half kidding) pic.twitter.com/9RLxn4TZgf

— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) August 2, 2024

Dear #Panthers fans,

Cam Newton is not a hooker waiting on a corner just waiting to picked up whenever we have a slight need at QB

Thank you for your time 🙂 https://t.co/6khlt5BRr7

— ΞＹΛＮ (@Eyan2003) August 2, 2024

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