Panthers won't consider trades for Bryce Young

Associated Press
| The Detroit News

Charlotte, NC – Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said he “absolutely” believes Bryce Young can still be a franchise quarterback, adding that the team has no plans to trade the 2023 No. 1 overall pick after benching him earlier this week.

“That’s not something we are really considering,” Canales said of the trade speculation swirling around Young. “We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now with guys who have experience. We love where we are at and it’s all hands on deck.”

Andy Dalton will start Sunday’s Week 3 game at Las Vegas.

The 36-year-old journeyman quarterback walked out to the practice field on Wednesday with a big smile on his face, stopping along the way to sign a football for a fan.

He took all of the first-team reps while Young was relegated to running the scout team.

Canales said Young approached practice with the same professional manner he has all season.

“He went right back to work,” Canales said. “Dove into the game plan. We had our conversations in the QB room just going around and talking about reads and what we saw from the defense. He followed that up with a great day on the field with some great throws. It was exactly what I expected of him.”

More: NFL picks, Week 3

Young, who is 2-16 as a starter, will serve as the team’s backup quarterback for the first time in his career.

The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner did not address reporters during the team’s open locker room session following his demotion.

The Panthers (0-2) are looking for an offensive spark after being outscored 73-13 in two games, including 53-3 in the first half.

No IR for Kupp yet

The Los Angeles Rams have elected not to put receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve with the hopes he could still recover from his ankle injury in a shorter time frame.

The Rams put offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson on injured reserve Wednesday after both were injured in Los Angeles’ blowout loss at Arizona.

But Kupp didn’t join them – at least not right away.

The Super Bowl 56 MVP hurt his ankle in the second quarter against the Cardinals, but he didn’t need surgery. He is currently in a cast to minimize movement, but he has a chance to return before the mandatory four-game absence required by injured reserve. The Rams’ bye week is also during that stretch.

Kupp going on injured reserve is “still a possibility,” head coach Sean McVay said.

Love practices with Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is practicing again for the first time since injuring his left medial collateral ligament, but the team remained circumspect about his chances of playing Sunday at Tennessee.

Love worked out on a limited basis Wednesday, and the Packers weren’t providing details on how much he did. When he was asked on multiple occasions about Love’s workload, coach Matt LaFleur simply repeated that “he was limited.”

“I’m going to take the week and just take it day by day and see how it feels, but I’m not going to make any decision on that right now,” Love said. “I’m hopeful that I’ll get to that point where I can get in there, but we’re just going to take it day by day and see.”

Love hadn’t practiced at all last week and didn’t play Sunday in a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which marked the first game he had missed since taking over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback last season.

Hall of Fame nominees

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri are among the first-time nominees for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall announced 167 modern era candidates for the class on Wednesday that included 16 players nominated for the first time, including two-time All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda.

A screening committee will reduce the list of nominees to 50 players next month. Then the full 50-person selection committee will cut the list down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists for the annual meeting before the Super Bowl that will produce the new class. Players must get 80% of votes to get in with between three and five players getting in as modern era candidates.

The other first-time candidates are offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Ryan Kalil and Joe Staley; running backs Darren Sproles and Marshawn Lynch; receiver Demaryius Thomas; tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker; and defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib and Earl Thomas.

Manning will look to follow his brother Peyton into the Hall following a standout career with the New York Giants. Manning was picked first overall in the 2004 draft and spent his entire career in New York. He led the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, throwing a game-winning TD pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute.

He led another late TD drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots four years later. Manning is one of 13 QBs to win multiple Super Bowls with eight of the nine who are eligible for the Hall getting inducted.

Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler but never made All-Pro or led the league in a major statistical category in a season but finished his career with 57,023 yards passing and 366 TDs.