"What a dumb a** answer" - Panthers fans flame Dave Canales as HC gives "horrid" reason to play Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers fans were anything but happy with Dave Canales after the young head coach explained why he allowed Bryce Young to play during the blowout 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears.
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC gave an explanation that raised plenty of eyebrows within the fanbase.
"I just saw it as an opportunity there. We had a couple of injuries on the offensive line, just like wanting to get him in there to get some live reps," Canales said. "And he did a fantastic job, playing with energy, extending plays, finding some completions down the field, which was all fantastic.
"It's a hard situation, but at that point, it was just like, okay, with just the different things happening on the offensive line, it was something that where I wanted to get Andy out of there."
These words didn't sit well with plenty of fans, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticize Canales' decision and the reasoning behind it.
"What a dumb a** answer. Even if it’s true just bs something about experience," one fan said.
"Horrid answer. Good to see Bryce make a couple plays," another fan said.
"Aight, this may be the dumbest answer he could have come up with 😅," another fan added.
Others were surprised that he openly admitted he sent Young to war without protection.
"Dudes job was to come in and help Bryce. He has done completely the opposite lol," one fan said.
Bryce Young was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and until further notice, the quarterback of the future for this team. He was benched after Week 2, but it was unthinkable to see Dave Canales take this approach, let alone discuss it so nonchalantly with reporters.
Young still put on solid numbers, completing four passes on seven attempts for 58 passing yards.
Dave Canales names Panthers' starting QB for Week 6
After the lopsided loss to the Bears and Bryce Young's participation in the same, speculation surrounding the second-year quarterback started. While Dave Canales said that Young was "fantastic" out there, he still named Andy Dalton the starter for Week 6.
They'll face the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday, hoping to get their second win of the season. The Panthers remain one of the worst teams in the NFL, even with the 14-year veteran Andy Dalton under center.
Young will have to wait to get another shot, but if the offensive line is banged up again next week, he could see some playing time.