Who Should I Start? Blaine Gabbert or Andy Dalton

Monday, January 8, 1:51 AM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Blaine Gabbert wasn't asked to do much in Sunday's 13-12 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers, completing 15-of-30 passes for 154 yards and an interception with five carries for 46 yards. With the Chiefs resting most of their top skill positions in a game with no playoff implications, Gabbert understandably had a difficult time moving the ball and sustaining drives. The 34-year-old veteran looked spry, though, on 25- and 14-yard scampers to set up a go-ahead field-goal drive during the fourth quarter. Gabbert served his purpose in Week 18 to bridge the gap between this meaningless contest and K.C.'s postseason endeavors, and he will head back to the sidelines as Patrick Mahomes' backup when the team hosts the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night for Wild Card action.

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.