Could the Carolina Panthers play the role of the great (re)uniter once again?

The Cincinnati Bengals experienced the worst loss possible in Week 2, as starting quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe. According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the former No. 1 overall pick and two-time Pro Bowler is expected to undergo toe surgery—which will keep him out for a minimum of three months.

To their credit, Cincinnati took that vicious hit on the chin and kept on moving yesterday afternoon. Second-stringer Jake Browning, as he’s previously done in place of Burrow, stepped in and steered the Bengals to a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They cannot, however, sit idly by.

Outside of Burrow and Browning, seven-year veteran Brett Rypien is the only other quarterback Cincinnati has under contract—and he’s currently a member of their practice squad. And if that’s not a clear enough indicator that the team needs to add another arm, Schefter has also reported that the Bengals have been “calling around” to free agents in an attempt to fortify the position.

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But even with Browning’s experience as the next man up and the search for depth to back him, some members of the Bengals faithful are hoping for a storybook return of a certain quarterback . . .

Is this a feasible option for the Bengals and Panthers?

Well, the latter already facilitated a heartwarming reunion earlier this season—which makes this dream, at least to Bengals fan, somewhat interesting.

Back on Aug. 27, Carolina traded wideout Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings, the team he had spent the first decade of his NFL tenure with. The Detroit Lakes, Minn. native and Minnesota State University got his wish for a homecoming while the Vikings, who desperately needed receiving help, got some insurance for their offense.

The Panthers also got something pretty sweet in return. Thielen was sent off as part of a mildly-complicated pick swap, one that essentially netted Carolina a fourth-round selection.

And hey—an early Day 3 piece of capital ain’t too shabby for a 35-year-old receiver in the last season of his contract and, possibly, of his career.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has some history with Dalton as well. Dalton, who still stands as the franchise’s second all-time leading passer, was Cincinnati’s starter in 2019—Taylor’s first campaign at the helm.

So, should or could the Panthers look to do the same with Dalton—a soon-to-be 38-year-old on a short-term deal? Can they, like they did with Thielen, reel in a worthwhile pick in setting the stage for another reunion?

Probably not. (Sorry to those romantics in Cincinnati.)

Other than their former teams needing help at their positions, the circumstances for Thielen and Dalton are not comparable.

Thielen, despite being the Panthers’ leading receiver in both of his two seasons with the organization, became a bit dispensable with the growing depth at wideout. Carolina’s youth movement has promoted and prioritized the development of players such as Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr. and even Brycen Tremayne—who has already proven to be a hidden gem on the roster.

The Panthers—or almost any other team, for that matter—aren’t as deep at the quarterback spot.

We know, especially around these parts, that finding a good starting quarterback is hard enough. So finding a good backup, obviously, is even more difficult.

Dalton has provided the Panthers with some peace of mind behind starter Bryce Young. That showed in 2024, where the three-time Pro Bowler took the reins for the struggling former No. 1 pick.

Solving a problem for another team would create a whole new one for Carolina. What would likely be an even later Day 3 selection would not be a sensible payoff to removing the safe floor from the most important position in the sport—unless, that is, they really believe in Hendon Hooker off the practice squad. (Doubtful.)

Again, apologies to those who are wishing upon a Hollywood ending.

But in this particular case, the Panthers can’t afford to write the rest of the script for someone else. Instead, they have to keep working on theirs.