The learning curve is steep and most QBs cannot handle the pressure year 1 - especially when the team has a shit line and no RB to take the pressure off.
Worse - it’s a 3 year cycle MAX and rapidly becoming 2. If you’re not a solid starter by mid year 2 - plan on playing elsewhere before your contract ends as 1st rounder.
Washington a few years ago set the standard with Shuler and then dumping him to a backup role.
Yes. Additionally, you can't drive a car until you get on a real road. Village roads on Sunday or closed tracks just don't make you a driver, let alone a racing driver.
NFL teams have to see if their prized freshman QB is ready to drive. 8 times out of 10 he's not. But once he plays in a real NFL game at real speed (and gets hit a few times), his learning curve doubles.
NOW he really gets it. NOW he is getting ready, knowing what to expect.
What happened is completely normal. Expect Dalton to play 3-4 games, and then the rookie to make a comeback and play a lot better.