Panthers QB Bryce Young will start Week 9 as the Saints anticipate the return of Derek Carr

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young will make his second consecutive start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, who expect Derek Carr to return under center for the first time since Week 5.

Andy Dalton was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, but Carolina coach Dave Canales said he wanted to err on the side of caution and give Dalton another week to recover from the thumb injury he suffered in a car accident last week.

Dalton will be the team’s No. 2 quarterback this week.

Carr trained on Wednesday for the first time since injuring an oblique muscle on October 7 in Kansas City.

Saints coach Dennis Allen says Carr was “doing a bit of a count.”

“I’m really encouraged by what I saw today,” said Allen, discussing Carr’s form. “The signs are optimistic for this weekend.”

Young is 2-17 as an NFL starter, including 0-3 this season.

He struggled in Carolina’s season opener in New Orleans, going 13 of 30 passing for 161 yards with two interceptions in a game where the Panthers trailed 30-0 in the first half.

Young threw two touchdown passes against the Denver Broncos last week, but the Panthers lost 28-14.

Carr has missed three straight games — all losses for the Saints, who are in the midst of a six-game skid, their longest since 2005.

Rookie Spencer Rattler started in place of Carr, but New Orleans lost all three games by 18 or more points. Fellow Saints backup QB Jake Haener is expected to serve as Carr’s backup this week, Allen said.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.

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