ROB MAADDI
Associated Press
Drafting Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud is even more disastrous for Carolina now that the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has been benched just two games into his second season.
It may end up being one of the worst draft decisions in NFL history.
Stroud went No. 2 overall to the Houston Texans last year, led them from worst to first in the AFC South and a playoff victory, earning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He's helped the Texans to a 2-0 start this season.
Meanwhile, first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales is turning to veteran Andy Dalton after Young looked dreadful in the first two games. Young is 2-16 as a starter and faces an uncertain future in Carolina.
The decision to select Young over Stroud demands accountability.
The Panthers already fired coach Frank Reich after a 1-10 start in his first season with the team last year and dismissed general manager Scott Fitterer following the completion of a 2-15 season.
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But there's strong thought around the league that owner David Tepper preferred Young and heavily influenced the decision to draft him over Stroud.
If so, that would be the ultimate example of why owners should leave football decisions to the executives they hired to make them.
NOTES
DOLPHINS: Miami placed Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years, the team announced Tuesday.
Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games with the designation. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 when the Dolphins host Arizona, but has to successfully complete a series of tests and assessments required by the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to the field.
Tagovailoa was hurt in the third quarter of a Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills on a play where he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. He ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.
Players from both teams immediately motioned that Tagovailoa was hurt, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, got to his feet and walked to the sideline. The Dolphins diagnosed him with a concussion just a few minutes later.
Coach Mike McDaniel has since cautioned against speculation on the quarterback's football future, stressing that he's more focused on Tagovailoa getting healthy than what this latest concussion means for the team or for his long-term career. Tagovailoa this week began the process of consulting neurologists about his health amid reports that he has no plans to retire.
STEELERS: Justin Fields will likely make his third straight start at quarterback when Pittsburgh hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Fields will practice with the starters during the early portion of the week while Russell Wilson continues to rehab from a calf injury he aggravated a few days ahead of the season opener earlier this month.
Tomlin said there has been no change in Wilson's status. The nine-time Pro Bowler was limited in practice last week and while Wilson said he believes he is getting closer to a return, the Steelers are planning to have Fields play against the unbeaten Chargers.
CHIEFS: According to an AP source, Kansas City signed Kareem Hunt to their practice squad. It's a reunion with a running back who achieved stardom with them before video of him assaulting a woman led to his release. The Chiefs brought Hunt in for a workout after Isiah Pacheco sustained a right ankle injury in Sunday's win over Cincinnati.
COLTS: Indianapolis will be without three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for at least four games after he was placed on injured reserve with a sprained right ankle.
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