Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Nate Sudfeld

Thursday, August 21, 6:05 PM

Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton (elbow) is being held out of the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt. Starter Bryce Young will also be held out, leaving QB duties on Thursday to Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins, who was just signed on Monday. The 37-year-old Dalton suffered a muscle strain in his right elbow in the team's second preseason tilt last Saturday against the Houston Texans. While the injury isn't considered overly serious, Dalton is strictly focused on being available for the club's Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Red Rifle is purely a backup at this point in his career. In six games (five starts) played last year in Carolina when Young was benched, he threw for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Wednesday, August 20, 10:58 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have signed journeyman quarterback Nate Sudfeld to a one-year deal, with the terms of the deal undisclosed. Sudfeld was originally a 6th-round draft pick of the Washington Commanders in 2016 and has seen stops with the Eagles, 49ers, and Lions. Sudfeld was with the 49ers in 2021 when he beat out Brock Purdy for the No. 3 quarterback spot, but he has yet to start a game in his seven-year NFL career. His last appearance in a game was in 2022 with Detroit. With the 49ers moving running back Patrick Taylor Jr. to season-ending IR on Wednesday, they had a roster spot to fill, but Sudfeld sits fifth on the team's quarterback depth chart and is unlikely to make the team's 53-man roster.