The Carolina Panthers were on the road to play the New York Jets in Week 7. Bryce Young and the Panthers entered the game with a 3-3 record. Justin Fields and the Jets were 0-6.
The Week 7 game between Carolina and New York was a low-scoring game. The Panthers won 13-6, improving to 4-3. The Panthers achieved a batting average above .500 for the first time since October 2021. In that win over the Jets, QB Bryce Young injured his ankle. He got the game going early and Andy Dalton replaced Young. NFL sources have reported that Bryce Young has suffered an ankle sprain and is expected to miss Week 8’s game against the Bills.
Andy Dalton likely to start for Carolina Panthers in Week 8
#Panthers QB Bryce Young is expected to miss this week’s away games after an MRI revealed he suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday. #invoiceper source.
Andy Dalton is currently scheduled to start against Buffalo and beyond. pic.twitter.com/hHFmT7MWfP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 20, 2025
Carolina will be without starting QB Bryce Young in Week 8 against the Bills. The former No. 1 overall pick sprained his ankle in Week 7 against the Jets. Young was accidentally stepped on by a defender and fell. He slowly walked off the field and headed to the locker room. Bryce Young did not return to the Panthers. However, Andy Dalton took over and did enough to win the game.
Carolina also benefited from playing a disrupted team like the Jets. Despite scoring just 13 points in Week 7, the Panthers were able to rely on their run game. Rico Doodle led the team with 79 yards on 17 carries. Tuba Hubbard started Sunday and carried the ball 14 times for 31 yards. Andy Dalton entered the game in place of the injured Bryce Young. Dalton completed 4-7 passing for 60 yards and was sacked once.
from @NFL Network: of #Panthers QB Bryce Young may be out this week with a high ankle sprain. When he injured the same ankle two years ago, he missed just one week. His timeline is TBA. pic.twitter.com/rBhs0nGvtK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2025
Bryce Young suffered a sprained ankle after the Week 7 win against the Jets. NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Bryce Young is expected to miss Week 8. Veteran backup Andy Dalton is scheduled to start in Week 8. Dalton has been Carolina’s backup since Bryce Young entered the league in 2023. He is a valuable mentor for young QBs. Ando Dalton has years of starting experience and NFL wisdom to share with Young.
Carolina’s starter will be out in Week 8, but Andy Dalton will start. When Dalton takes the field this Sunday, he will have started at least one game in all three seasons with the Panthers. In Carolina, he started 6 games and had 1 win and 5 losses. Dalton led the Panthers to a 36-22 victory over the Raiders in 2024, his only time with the Panthers. The team has a tough opponent in Week 8. Josh Allen and the Bills are on a two-game losing streak and just entered their bye week. Carolina will have to fight for a win in Week 8 to defeat Buffalo.