We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2024 season.
We’re officially 14 days away from the Carolina Panthers kicking off the 2024 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints. That’s just two weeks away! It will be their second consecutive road opener. Now it’s time for our annual roster countdown to highlight the players on the Panthers’ roster. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the player wearing the the No. 14 jersey— quarterback Andy Dalton.
Dalton’s veteran status is well-earned by this, the 14th season of his career. He was the fifth quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft after Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, and Christian Ponder. He is one of two quarterbacks in that group to have made the Pro Bowl and is the only one still in the league.
He joined the Panthers in free agency in 2023 with the eye of being a veteran mentor to then-rookie Bryce Young. Having spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, and then spent time with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, Dalton is presumably not stranger to disappointing teams. Hopefully, his vast experience in that department was a boon to Young during his rookie year.
Now, armed with a new quarterback guru head coach and a can-do attitude, the Panthers offense has no where to go but up.
That leaves Dalton riding the bench and operating as another level of support and advice for Young. That is, of course, unless Young continues his struggles from 2023 out of the gate. Then the calls for Dalton to start are going to leap suddenly and remain constantly at a fever pitch.
How about it Panthers fans, ware you hoping to see Dalton on the field this season? Scroll on down to the comments and share your thoughts with us!