Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Taylor Heinicke

Wednesday, October 23, 2:25 PM

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton is not practicing on Wednesday for what is being called "a day off" by team reporter Joe Person. Dalton was involved in a car accident on Tuesday, but he and his family did not sustain any serious injuries. His excused absence from practice is likely a precautionary measure. The former second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 has started the last five games for the Panthers following the benching of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Dalton has been up-and-down in his 14th NFL campaign, completing 66.3% of his passes for 989 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions. Young will handle valuable first-team reps in Wednesday's practice, but it remains to be seen if he will get back the QB1 duties sometime this season.

Wednesday, August 28, 8:22 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers are acquiring quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Not only is starting quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) recovering from plantar fasciitis in his foot, but backup Easton Stick regressed in training camp and the preseason. The 31-year-old Heinicke will be an upgrade at the QB position behind Herbert entering the regular season next week. In Atlanta, the Falcons were expected all along to try and trade Heinicke after taking rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the first round in April. Heinicke made his NFL debut back in 2017 with the Houston Texans and has appeared in 38 games (29 starts) since then with four different teams. His best year came in 2021 with Washington, when he threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 picks on 321 pass attempts over 16 games (15 starts).