CHARLOTTE — Andy Dalton was relaxed, or as relaxed as one can be when they've just received career-altering news, as he leaned back against a cabinet in the locker room, ready to address the media as the Panthers' new starting quarterback.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," Dalton said through his smile. "When I came here, I wasn't sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm excited about what's ahead. It's a tough situation. I've been on both sides of it and it's hard for everybody. But for me, I'm looking forward to it."

The opportunity, as it currently stands, is for Dalton to take the reins in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dave Canales announced on Monday the Panthers would be playing Dalton this week. Canales shared with both Bryce Young and Dalton the decision early Monday, then with the entire team.

"I talked to Bryce, and I talked to Andy, and then from there, I let the team know and kind of talk to each of the guys as I knew," Canales said. "I didn't want them to find out the wrong way."

The news was a surprise to Dalton, who admitted, "I definitely wasn't expecting it." Once the words settled though, Dalton couldn't help but feel a jolt of excitement.

"But when he told me, it's one of those deals like, well this is one of those things I've been praying for, another opportunity. And I've got it now."

By the time players filtered into the locker room on Monday afternoon, they'd had a while to process the change and the challenge issued by Canales to extend, "the same support for Andy as we go into this week. For the guys to be supportive and every day just to approach it with that kind of energy."

Safety Nick Scott, who has been in the league since 2019 and now with his third team, has seen turnover before. The Rams went to the playoffs three times while Scott was in Los Angeles and won a Super Bowl. But they also followed up that win with a 5-12 season. As such, Scott—like so many in the locker room—are familiar with what happens when things stall.

"There's changes, especially when you get into times of adversity," Scott said. "Any position group, any player, regardless of their role, can be in that position."

It echoed what Canales had said earlier, that his job is to evaluate every position and "it happens to the quarterback position, so it's loaded."

But as Scott continued to explain, "there's turnover. Guys get hired, guys get fired, guys get replaced, all that stuff.

"We see it wherever we go, been seeing it for a number of years now. So, you know, the mentality for the guys in this group is, come in on Wednesday, ready to work, ready to do our job first and then trust the coaches to make the decisions necessary to put us in a position to be successful on Sunday."

And for now, that decision is to play Dalton as the starting quarterback.

Canales said multiple times this decision was because he believes Dalton gives the Panthers the best chance to win this week. He also said the scheme would stay the same. That's something Dalton is OK with, as he told reporters.

"I think the way we build things and the way we do things, I mean, for me, if you can get the ball out of your hands and make quick decisions and play with timing and accuracy and anticipation, all that kind of stuff. There's a lot of that in this offense," Dalton said.

Dalton suited up as the starter for one game in 2023, when Young was injured, in Week 3 versus the Seattle Seahawks. That performance became the team's second-best offensive performance of the entire season, with 378 total yards, just 16 total yards less than the best performance, versus the Packers in Week 16. Versus the Seahawks, Dalton put up 334 yards in the air, which was the best passing performance of the season. The 23 first downs were the third most of any game last year.

"For me, it's one of those things, I was trying to do everything I could, from the moment I got here, I was going to do everything I could to help Bryce. And to try to help this team," Dalton said Monday. "So, I was giving my input on certain things. I was able to see it from my point of view and kind of share that. But moving forward, it's like I get a different opportunity to affect the game."

Dalton acknowledged this would be a quick turnaround, given the offseason program was set up for Young, and molded around what coaches wanted to see out of the second-year passer. But as someone who has played in the league for now 14 seasons, going to three Pro Bowls, Dalton is confident he can jump in and take care of the offense.

"I think at this point in my career, I'm just thankful for an opportunity. I didn't know if I was going to get it again. So, I'm fired up, I'm pumped to get a chance to do what I've done my whole career," Dalton admitted. "I've been in this position before and I am able to have conversations and I think just the experience I've had in this league for a long time resonates with a lot of people, when I'm able to say certain things."

There is the Bryce Young of it all, a reminder there is a person on the other side of this decision that is having the opposite reaction. It's a reminder that sobered Dalton quickly, as he and Young have become especially close over the past year and a half. Often if you see one, you see the other, and they are attached at the hip on sidelines during games.

"Hopefully our friendship and everything that we've built from the moment he got here will stay, and I know it will," Dalton said. "It's one of those things, I think he even said it in his press conference after the game, in hard times, your true colors show. For him, I feel like he's going to come out and be the same person. But I feel for the whole situation. It's not fun for anybody. Just got to keep moving forward."

One way for Young to keep moving forward is to lean on the teammates still around him. He will be the backup quarterback for now, still suited and ready to play if called upon on Sundays. As such, that will require a support system that doesn't falter even with the decision to change quarterbacks.

"First reaction is just, you know, giving a tremendous amount of support to Bryce for what he's been doing and what he has done, his job is not easy," Scott said. "I know that Bryce, you know, he has everything in his body, everything in his right mind to be able to be a great person to support Andy as well. That's just how he's made up. That's why he's been successful to this point. So, I'm not worried about him in the slightest, but whatever he needs for me or any of these guys he can get."

Added Dalton, "I'm very confident (in Bryce). He's made up the right way. And who knows what's going to happen? But for him, I know he's got the right character traits and that's going to carry him on for beyond this right now."

Tight end Tommy Tremble took blame, on behalf of the entire offense, for the decision, making sure to clarify any issues that arose in Young's performance Sunday was not Young's alone.

"We together couldn't get it done," Tremble said. "And I feel for him because it's a team effort and you can't put it on one guy. So, I feel bad that we failed him in our aspect, we've got to do our job better. So, it's tough. It's tough when you can't get the job done on Sunday."

The Panthers will try to get the job done again this coming Sunday, behind a full week of practice for Dalton. And now, the longtime veteran passer is ready to head into the desert and see what he can this offense can do together.

"I'm ready," smiled Dalton. "A lot of time sitting around watching."