DENVER – Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales was on his way to the locker room after Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos when he returned to the tunnel to greet the remaining players leaving Empower Field after their fifth loss in Follow enthusiastically.

He exchanged handshakes with most of them but greeted quarterback Bryce Young with a hug.

There were things Canales liked about Young's performance in his first start since being substituted after a 2-0 start to the season. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft led a touchdown drive on his first possession — his first in his 19 starts — and on their final possession.

There were also many of the same issues that have led to Young's record being 2-17, tied with Chris Weinke of the Panthers (2001-02) for the worst 19-game start of any quarterback to start his career in the Super Bowl era) and Steve DeBerg of the San Francisco 49ers (1978-79).

Overall, Young simply hadn't done enough for Canales to declare him the Week 9 starter after the game at home against the New Orleans Saints.

If anything, there have been signs that Canales will return to veteran Andy Dalton, who was unable to play due to a severe sprain of the thumb on his throwing hand that he suffered in a car accident Tuesday with his family.

The offense seemed to run more smoothly under Dalton in most of his five starts, despite a 1-4 record. Canales basically admitted as much when asked why the offense seemed more tentative with Young under center.

“I’m trying to find a rhythm,” Canales said. “I'm trying to find things he can throw with confidence.”…We mixed different actions there. That was part of our game plan. …So I try to give him good answers to do those things.

“It’s his first time back out there and he’s been able to just keep working on some issues and competing to get finishes out there.”

Ultimately, however, Canales said he will review Dalton's health over the next few days before making a decision on who will start.

If he chooses Dalton, that doesn't mean he's any less committed to Young's long-term development. It just means Dalton is better prepared for success now that potentially winnable games against the Saints and New York Giants are next.

One could easily argue that Young was in a no-win situation on Sunday. He was missing his two best receivers – Diontae Johnson (ribs) and Adam Thielen (hamstring) – and faced the NFL's fourth-ranked defense in one of the NFL's loudest stadiums.

Tight end Tommy Tremble said he and others could have done more to help Young. He took some responsibility for the first of Young's two interceptions, saying he tipped the pass and should have caught it.

“We all have to do the right things, be in the right places and help each other win,” he said. “If we clean this up a little bit more, we can get him to a better place where he can really showcase himself.”

“I’m proud that he keeps fighting, fails on the last drive and stays with us.”

Wide receiver David Moore, who had four catches for 39 yards, said Young played with “a lot more confidence” than in the first two games of the season. He also saw that in training before the game.

He liked the way Young finished the game and approached the game as if he could win without his top receivers.

Young didn't use those absences as an excuse for not being more effective. He finished 24 of 37 for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His total yards were the fourth most of his career.

“There was nothing to prove,” Young said. “I just want to go out and do something, I want to help win football. “We didn't get the job done so I can do better with that.”

As confident as Young was in the scrum, he had moments of frustration captured on television. There were also moments when he seemed more relaxed and enjoying the moment than before.

Time will tell if he will return to the starting lineup for the Panthers (1-7) next week.

“Every week we’re faced with something, some kind of adversity,” running back Chuba Hubbard said. “He stepped up and I felt like he played a great game.”

“We just take it week by week. I can’t say what’s fair and what’s not.”