Dalton is expected to start Sunday's game against the Bills, and potentially longer, after Bryce Young suffered a high-ankle sprain Week 7, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton closed out Carolina's 13-6 win over the Jets after Young's fourth-quarter departure, completing four of seven pass attempts for 60 yards. The veteran also rushed twice for minus-2 yards. Last season, Dalton logged a five-game stretch under center from Weeks 3 through 7, a span in which he completed 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. The presence of new No. 1 receiver Tetairoa McMillan alongside second-year pro Xavier Legette could allow Dalton to improve upon those numbers during his 2025 starting stint. Pelissero reports that the Panthers are optimistic Young could miss as little as one contest, though high-ankle sprains typically carry a 2-to-4-week recovery timeline.

Dalton completed four of seven pass attempts for 60 yards and rushed twice for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran quarterback entered the Panthers' Week 7 win early in the fourth quarter after Bryce Young (ankle) went down with an injury. Dalton performed well in relief, completing four of seven pass attempts for 60 yards, highlighted by a 33-yard strike to Xavier Legette that helped seal Sunday's victory. Young's practice participation throughout the week will likely provide the best indication of his potential availability for the Week 8 matchup against the Bills. If he's forced to miss time, Dalton will likely take over as the Panthers' top signal caller.

Dalton (elbow) was not listed on the Panthers' injury report Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton was dealing with an elbow sprain late in training camp, but it looks like he'll be back to full strength for the start of the regular season. He's listed as the next man up in the event that starter Bryce Young has to come out for any reason.

Dalton (elbow) isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Steelers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton injured his right elbow last Saturday versus the Texans and eventually was diagnosed with a muscle strain in his elbow area. Carolina already wasn't playing its starters in the exhibition finale, but a number of key reserves like Dalton also won't be available. He'll now focus his attention to getting healthy for a Week 1 road matchup with the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 7, while Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins will direct this offense Thursday with Bryce Young also in street clothes.

Dalton (elbow) is day-to-day as he deals with a muscle strain in his elbow area, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton originally was diagnosed with an elbow sprain Saturday, but the injury has been clarified as more of a muscle strain, which has left the quarterback dealing with soreness. He threw in individual drills Monday and isn't expected to miss significant time, though it remains to be seen if he heals in time to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Steelers.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Saturday that Dalton has been diagnosed with an elbow sprain, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Canales said Dalton told him he feels OK after having been forced out of Saturday's 20-3 preseason loss against the Texans, but the veteran quarterback will undergo further medical testing Sunday. If Dalton is unavailable for any stretch of time, including Carolina's preseason finale against the Steelers on Thursday, Aug. 21, Jack Plummer will step up as the primary backup to Bryce Young.

Dalton will not return to Saturday's preseason game against the Texans due to a right elbow injury, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton entered Saturday's contest after Bryce Young started the first drive, but the veteran quarterback has now exited for the day after taking a hit from Houston defensive end Danielle Hunter, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports that Dalton appears in high spirits on the sideline, though, an indication that the elbow injury is something he could play through were this a regular-season affair, rather than a preseason matchup. Jack Plummer will close things out for the Panthers under center.

The Panthers signed Dalton on a two-year, $8 million contract extension Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Dalton's new extension reportedly includes $6 million guaranteed and carries a maximum value of $10 million with incentives, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. In nine appearances with Carolina over the last two seasons, the 37-year-old signal-caller has tossed nine touchdowns and six interceptions, with perhaps his most impactful contributions coming as a valued veteran mentor for Bryce Young, who notably improved Year 2. Dalton will remain with the Panthers as both a backup, and as a hopeful pillar of support for Young in the quarterback room.

Dalton completed 106 of his 160 pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions over six regular-season games in 2024. He also rushed 11 times for 34 yards and lost two fumbles.

EDGE Analysis

After the Panthers lost their first two games of the regular season by a combined 60 points, 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young was benched in favor of Dalton, who then made five consecutive starts before injuring his thumb in a car accident. Dalton initially provided Carolina's offense with a much-needed spark, throwing for five touchdowns and one interception over his first two starts, before regressing in his final three games. He's now finished the final season of a two-year, $10 million deal signed with Carolina in 2023, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 37-year-old is likely to serve as a backup quarterback again in 2025, whether with the Panthers or another team, if he decides to return for his 15th NFL season.

Dalton (thumb) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

After injuring his thumb in a car accident last week, Dalton was inactive for this past Sunday's loss to the Broncos, which opened the door for second-year quarterback Bryce Young to make his first start since Week 2. Though the veteran now appears to be fully recovered from the thumb injury, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that Young will continue to start over Dalton in a Week 9 matchup with the Saints, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Dalton will likely be active Sunday, but in the backup role he had filled in Weeks 1 and 2.