Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. (Rusty Jones/AP Photo)

WIRE REPORTS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after the second-year quarterback’s rough start to the season. Andy Dalton will take over as the starter for Carolina’s next game on Sunday at Las Vegas. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he made the decision after watching game film from Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

He’s completed just 31 of 56 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions as the Panthers have started 0-2 this season for the second straight year and have been outscored 73-13 by the New Orleans Saints and Chargers. Young has run for one touchdown, the only one of the season for Carolina.

Young is 2-16 as a starter overall since the Panthers traded up eight spots in the 2023 NFL draft to get him.

Air Force to AAC?

The American Athletic Conference has renewed interest in adding Air Force as a member to put all three service academies into the same league for the first time. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the AAC’s discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because conference officials were not making their internal discussions public. The news comes days after the Pac-12 announced Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State would be leaving the Mountain West to join Oregon State and Washington State in a reconstructed Conference of Champions, starting in 2026.

Older UT players relish No. 1 ranking

AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns returned to class Monday as the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in 16 years and with college football buzzing about hotshot backup quarterback Arch Manning. Texas is No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and many of the older players on Monday recounted the climb up from the 5-7 finish in 2021. Manning took over the offense after starter Quinn Ewers was injured and could get his first start this week. Coach Steve Sarkisian said Ewers would be considered “questionable” to play.

Rough Sunday for NFL’s best of 2023

It was a rough Sunday for some of the NFL’s best teams in 2023. The 49ers were stymied by the Vikings on the road. The Cowboys got destroyed by the Saints at home. The Ravens blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the Raiders. The Lions messed up in a home loss to the banged-up Buccaneers. New season. Different challenges. Last year’s records don’t matter. Even Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs struggled. They barely escaped with a win over the Bengals when Harrison Butker kicked a last-second 51-yard field goal after a defensive pass interference on fourth-and-16 gave them a chance.

Diamondbacks best offense

PHOENIX — Aaron Judge is mashing homers at an astounding pace for the New York Yankees. Shohei Ohtani provides the same type of thump for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But it’s the Arizona Diamondbacks that have the best offense in the big leagues — by quite a bit. The Diamondbacks came into Sunday’s games averaging 5.48 runs per game, a full half run better than the second place team, which is the Yankees at 4.98. Arizona was at it again on Sunday, pulling off a 11-10 win in 10 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dolphins signing Huntley

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are signing backup quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad as Tua Tagovailoa remains out with the third diagnosed concussion of his pro career. Coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the move first reported by NFL Network, saying that Huntley is being added for depth behind current No. 2 quarterback Skylar Thompson. Tagovailoa remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol after leaving a 31-10 loss to Buffalo last Thursday. McDaniel said there’s still not enough information to know whether Tagovailoa will go on injured reserve. Thompson likely will start when Miami plays at Seattle on Sunday.