Dalton will work with the first-team offense during summer OTAs, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: This isn't entirely surprising given Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, has had essentially two weeks to look over the team's playbook. It wouldn't be a shock to hear head coach Frank Reich give the veteran Dalton every opportunity to win the starting job out of preseason, if only to let Young really get his feet wet at the professional level, but given the sheer draft capital invested in the Alabama product, it's hard to imagine Dalton will see first-string reps for very long.
May 13, 2023 12:59 PM EST
With Panthers having chosen Bryce Young with the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dalton is expected to serve as the rookie's backup this coming season, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Dalton, who signed a two-year deal with the team in March, brings plenty of NFL starting experience to the table, but given the Panthers' significant investment in trading up to land Young, the 35-year-old seems destined to work in a reserve role in 2023, while mentoring the team's young signal-caller. If the 5-foot-10, 204-pound Young struggles at all out of the gate or suffers any injuries, Dalton provides the franchise with a reliable insurance policy, but for now the 2011 second-rounder, who started 14 games for the Saints in 2022, is off the fantasy re-draft radar.
Apr 28, 2023 9:36 AM EST
Dalton completed 15 of 25 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Panthers.
Analysis: Dalton got out to a solid start Week 18, as he went 4-for-4 passing for 59 yards and a 25-yard passing touchdown on the opening drive. However, he still wound up logging fewer than 200 passing yards for the fifth time in his 14 starts this season. The 35-year-old signal-caller finishes the 2022 campaign with a 66.7 completion percentage on 378 attempts for 2,871 for 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Dalton was expected to serve as the Saints' No. 2 quarterback after signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the team last offseason, though he took over the starting job after Jameis Winston missed time with back and ankle injuries early in the season. With Winston still under contract heading into the 2023 campaign, it's unclear if the team will want to bring Dalton back for another year.
Jan 8, 2023 3:17 PM EST
Dalton completed 18 of 22 passes for 204 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Eagles.
Analysis: Dalton and the Saints were in surprisingly positive game script throughout the contest, so he wasn't asked to do much. He threw an interception just before halftime deep in Philadelphia territory, but Dalton otherwise managed the game effectively. Despite the victory, Dalton has now failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in four of his last five games, and he's topped 204 passing yards just once in that span.
Jan 1, 2023 9:17 PM EST
Dalton completed eight of 15 passes for 92 yards and one interception during Saturday's 17-10 win over Cleveland.
Analysis: Dalton attempted a season-low 15 passes during Saturday's frigid temperatures and steady winds. With top wideout Chris Olave (hamstring) inactive, the 35-year-old signal-caller was also let down with multiple drops by New Orleans' receivers. This included an interception late in the first quarter on a pass that bounced off the hands of tight end Juwan Johnson and directly to awaiting Browns safety Grant Delpit. Dalton went on to attempt just seven passes over the remaining three quarters of the game, as the Saints offense shifted to an option rushing attack between versatile quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Alvin Kamara. However, Dalton still accounted for all of the team's passing attempts in this game, so this unique game plan is unlikely to affect his official status as the team's starting quarterback moving forward.
Dec 24, 2022 2:28 PM EST
Dalton went 11-for-17 passing for 151 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 21-18 victory versus the Falcons.
Analysis: Dalton logged season lows in passing yards and attempts during the Saints' run-heavy attack Week 15. He also wasn't involved in the team's longest play from scrimmage, as change-of-pace quarterback Taysom Hill connected with Rashid Shaheed for a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter. However, Dalton once again showed why he deserves to be the team's starting quarterback, completing at least 64 percent of his passes for the eighth time in his 11 starts this season. He also connected with Juwan Johnson for two touchdowns during the tight end's return from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. Dalton's fantasy upside should remain limited if New Orleans continues to utilize a two-quarterback approach Week 16 versus Cleveland.
Dec 18, 2022 7:00 PM EST
Dalton will remain the starter under center in Week 15 against the Falcons, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: If the 4-9 Saints wanted to go back to Jameis Winston under center, the Week 14 bye offered the perfect opportunity to do so. New Orleans believes Dalton gives the team a better chance to win, as the Saints have no incentive to lose given that the Eagles own their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and New Orleans is only two games back of the NFC South-leading Buccaneers in the standings.
Dec 12, 2022 10:48 AM EST
Dalton was 20-for-28 passing for 229 yards and one touchdown during Monday's 17-16 loss to the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Dalton logged one of his cleanest performances of the season, accumulating 8.2 yards per attempt against a Tampa Bay defense that was tied for fifth in yards per attempt allowed (6.6) coming into Week 13. However, the veteran still posted fewer than 250 passing yards for the eighth time in his 10 starts. His scoring production also remained limited by New Orleans' inefficiency in the red zone, as the team settled for field goals of 38, 21 and 29 yards. This unit will now have a bye week to rest and recover before taking on the Falcons' 26th-ranked passing defense Week 15.
Dec 5, 2022 9:32 PM EST
Dalton completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 204 yards and rushed four times for 21 yards in Sunday's 13-0 loss to the 49ers.
Analysis: It was a game to forget for Dalton and the entire New Orleans offense after they were shut out for the first time since 2002. Outside of a couple of missed throws, the veteran quarterback didn't actually play all that poorly, producing his second straight game with 200 passing yards and no turnovers. Dalton should remain a middling fantasy option when the Saints take on the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football in Week 13.
Nov 27, 2022 6:36 PM EST
Dalton was 21-for-25 passing for 260 yards and three touchdowns during Sunday's 27-20 victory over the Rams.
Analysis: Amid speculation about whether Jameis Winston should take over as New Orleans' starting quarterback, Dalton responded with his best outing of the season Week 11. Despite taking three sacks while working behind a patchwork offensive line, the 35-year-old was able to complete all but four of his passing attempts in the face of a Rams pass rush headlined by Aaron Donald. The quarterback also threw a game-long 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave down the middle of the field in the third quarter, putting the Saints up 24-14. While this performance should secure Dalton's starting job for the time being, he's set for another tough test next week against the 49ers.
Nov 20, 2022 3:07 PM EST
Coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Dalton will be the Saints' starting quarterback Sunday against the Rams, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: During Dalton's seven previous starts this season, the Saints have gone 2-5 to fall to 3-7 overall. And he had perhaps his worst performance of the season this past Sunday at Pittsburgh, where he completed 17 of 27 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 27-17 loss. Still, Allen will continue to roll with Dalton under center, even though Jameis Winston is 100 percent healthy at the moment.
Nov 16, 2022 12:29 PM EST
Dalton completed 17 of his 27 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers.
Analysis: Dalton turned in another poor effort, highlighted by two fourth-quarter interceptions, the first of which up a Steelers' touchdown and another that effectively ended the game. The primary positive to take from his performance was a 15-yard touchdown to Juwan Johnson just before halftime. However, Dalton has failed to top 200 passing yards in three of his seven games as the Saints' starter and has only one touchdown in five of those matchups. With Jameis Winston fully healthy, Dalton could be at risk of losing his starting job.
Nov 13, 2022 6:25 PM EST
Dalton completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday's 27-13 loss to the Ravens. He added two rushes for five yards.
Analysis: Dalton's final stat line doesn't look terrible, but he padded it significantly in garbage time. His lone touchdown went for 41 yards with the Saints down 27-7 late in the fourth quarter, and the Ravens gave up on the play after mistakenly believing that Juwan Johnson had stepped out of bounds. While Dalton has likely done enough to maintain his starting role heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Steelers, he has managed only one total touchdown in four of his six games on the season.
Nov 7, 2022 9:33 PM EST
Dalton completed 22 of 30 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 24-0 win over the Raiders.
Analysis: Dalton found tailback Alvin Kamara on both of his scores. Without any turnovers or sacks, it was a clean performance from the signal caller, who was picked off three times in Week 7's defeat. On the back of his first multi-touchdown win as a Saint, Dalton has helped his stock ahead of his upcoming matchup versus the Ravens.
Oct 30, 2022 1:20 PM EST
Dalton will start Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Analysis: Coach Dennis Allen made the announcement Wednesday, adding that the Saints now consider Jameis Winston to be healthy, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. It's thus clear Dalton has moved ahead of his teammate on the depth chart, rather than merely being an injury replacement while Winston finishes up his recovery from back and ankle injuries. Of course, Dalton could also lose the job back to Winston if he doesn't perform well.
Oct 26, 2022 12:49 PM EST
Dalton completed 30 of 47 attempts for 361 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in the Saints' 42-34 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday night. He also rushed four times for 21 yards.
Analysis: Dalton's night was the epitome of a mixed bag, as he offset his highest passing yardage total since Week 16 of the 2020 season with three back-breaking interceptions, the first at the Cardinals' nine-yard line followed by a pair of pick-sixes on back-to-back possessions late in the second quarter that changed the dynamic of the game for good. To his credit, Dalton kept battling with a short-handed pass-catching corps down Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) and helped get New Orleans within eight points via a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Juwan Johnson before the rally fell short. Despite the gaudy numbers, it's likely Jameis Winston (back/ankle), who's been healthy enough to serve as the No. 2 quarterback the last two games, returns to starting duty for a Week 8 home matchup against the Raiders a week from Sunday.
Oct 20, 2022 9:05 PM EST
Coach Dennis Allen confirmed Dalton (back) will be the Saints' starting quarterback Thursday at Arizona, Omar Ruiz of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Both Dalton and Jameis Winston (back/ankle) avoided designations for New Orleans' Week 7 matchup, but the team will continue to roll with the former for at least one more game. The team doesn't want to press Winston into action prematurely after dealing with four small fractures in his back, an ankle issue and a hip flexor injury already this season. Meanwhile, Dalton will earn a fourth consecutive start under center, which so far has resulted in 585 yards passing, three touchdowns and one interception on the first three occasions.
Oct 20, 2022 3:01 PM EST
Dalton is trending toward a start Thursday versus the Cardinals, but the Saints have yet to officially name a starter, Katherine Terrell of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Coach Dennis Allen declined to officially name a starter for Thursday between Dalton and Jameis Winston (back/ankle), saying "I think we'll just wait 'til game time," but Terrell reports that 'signs point' toward the team continuing to roll with Dalton on a short week. Winston remains limited in practice but doesn't have an injury designation, while Dalton practiced in full Wednesday after opening the week with back-to-back limited sessions. If Dalton indeed starts Thursday in Arizona, which may not become official until shortly before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, he will have standout rookie Chris Olave back from the concussion protocol, but have to operate without Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle), in addition to guard Andrus Peat (pectoral).
Oct 20, 2022 8:23 AM EST
Dalton (back) practiced fully Wednesday and doesn't have a designation for Thursday's game in Arizona.
Analysis: Coach Dennis Allen told Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football earlier Wednesday that he hasn't made a call on the Saints' starting quarterback for Week 7 between Dalton and Jameis Winston (back/ankle), the latter of whom was limited Monday through Wednesday but also avoided a designation for Thursday. Dalton himself opened the week with back-to-back capped sessions before logging every rep Wednesday, making it clear he's in a better spot than Winston, health-wise. Ultimately, Allen doesn't have to make his decision known before Thursday's kickoff, but if Dalton gets the nod, he again won't have wide receivers Michael Thomas (foot) or Jarvis Landry (ankle) at his disposal.
Oct 19, 2022 2:21 PM EST
Coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that he'll wait until Thursday to decide between Dalton (back) and Jameis Winston (back/ankle) as the starting quarterback for Thursday's game in Arizona, Erin Summers of the Saints' official website reports.
Analysis: Health presumably will be a key factor, with Dalton likely in better shape from that standpoint despite dealing with a back injury that limited his practice participation this week. Winston is recovering from back fractures and an ankle injury, having served as Dalton's backup in a loss to the Bengals on Sunday. Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football believes Dalton is likely to start Thursday's game.
Oct 19, 2022 11:58 AM EST
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