The Carolina Panthers have officially ruled out tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) for the Week 5 matchup on Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, per The Athletic's Joe Person. Sanders will miss his second straight game after suffering the dreaded high-ankle sprain back in Week 3. High-ankle sprains can keep players out up to four to six weeks, so Sanders could end up missing a third straight contest next week against the Dallas Cowboys. Even before his injury, Sanders wasn't much of an option for fantasy managers in 12-team leagues. With Sanders sidelined in last week's loss to the New England Patriots, Tommy Tremble stepped up for five catches on eight targets for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Tremble is known as more of a blocking TE, though, so expecting more relevant fantasy production might be a mistake. Still, he'll at least be in play as a TE2 streamer this weekend in a good matchup against Miami. Head coach Dave Canales said the hope is that Sanders is ready to go next week.
Oct 3, 2025 1:31 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) missed another practice on Thursday and is looking likely to miss a second straight game in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Sanders suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 and was unavailable in the Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots. High-ankle sprains can sideline players for up to four to six weeks, so Sanders is most likely not going to play this weekend against the visiting Dolphins. With Sanders out last weekend, Tommy Tremble, normally a pass-blocking TE, caught five of his eight targets for a season-high 42 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Tremble is going to be Carolina's best bet for fantasy production at the position until Sanders can return, but don't mistakenly think he's suddenly a must-play TE1 in fantasy lineups.
Oct 2, 2025 4:01 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) was listed as a DNP in Wednesday's practice, according to David Newton of ESPN. Sanders missed Week 4 against the Patriots as he has been dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered against the Falcons in Week 3. He is currently seen as week-to-week to week by the team. Sanders was moderately productive when he played, catching 11 of 14 targets for 92 yards. His best game came during Week 2 when he caught seven of nine targets for 54 yards. But it's worth pointing out that a lot of that production came during garbage time. Sanders caught five of his seven balls in the second half when the Panthers were getting blown out. It doesn't seem like Sanders will be healthy enough to go this week, and fantasy managers should avoid the Panthers' tight end situation entirely.
Oct 1, 2025 6:43 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) was unable to practice all week and was officially ruled out on Friday for the Week 4 game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone after Sanders suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons. In fact, it's possible that the 22-year-old will miss up to four to six weeks with this injury. With Sanders out, all of Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and James Mitchell could have bigger roles for Carolina in the coming week, starting this Sunday versus the Patriots. Tremble will be the TE1, but he's more of a blocking tight end and should not be trusted in fantasy lineups. Fantasy managers should avoid Carolina's TE situation. Through three weeks in his second NFL season before his injury, Sanders caught 11 of 14 targets for 92 yards and no touchdowns.
Sep 26, 2025 8:02 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, and he's expected to miss multiple weeks, a league source told Joe Person of The Athletic. Sanders was injured in the Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday when a defender fell on him after coming down with a catch in the fourth quarter. With Sanders now out for multiple weeks, Mitch Evans and James Mitchell will bump up on the TE depth chart behind Tommy Tremble. Through three weeks, Sanders has 11 catches on 14 targets for 92 yards and no touchdowns in his second NFL season. Tremble's role will expand in Carolina's offense moving forward, but he's known as a blocking TE, meaning fantasy managers should look elsewhere if they are looking for help at the position.
Sep 22, 2025 4:17 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle, foot) is awaiting the results of an MRI after exiting Sunday's win over the Falcons, but initial X-rays are believed to be encouraging. Sanders caught both of his targets for 11 yards in a game that the Panthers won handily, but he was spotted after the game in a walking boot. In his second season, Sanders has been the team's top tight end, and he saw a career high of nine targets for seven receptions in Week 2. The hope in Carolina is that he won't be sidelined for long. A hope shared by fantasy managers, as he was playing himself into every week streaming status at a position with very few reliable starters.
Sep 22, 2025 2:09 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He was officially listed as questionable and did not return. Carolina won by 30 points as Sanders converted his two targets into two catches for 11 yards through the air. While Sanders isn't a big name in fantasy football, managers should still stay tuned for injury updates, as his status will have a bearing on future volume for players like Tetairoa McMillan and Hunter Renfrow.
Sep 21, 2025 4:10 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders tied for second on the team with a career-high six catches on nine targets in Week 2. Thanks to trailing by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, Bryce Young was forced to throw the ball 55 times. Sanders made the most of his opportunities, catching six passes for 54 yards in the contest. The involvement in the passing game is an encouraging sign, but we'll have to pump the brakes until the Panthers show they can consistently get Sanders involved in the passing game in a closer contest. In Week 1, Sanders saw just three targets. The Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, who are coming off a stellar defensive performance on Sunday night when they held the Minnesota Vikings to just 120 passing yards. Sanders should be kept on the waiver wire, but it would be a good idea to continue to monitor his stat line moving forward.
Sep 15, 2025 3:25 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders put together an impressive training camp, most notably as a receiver. Head coach Dave Canales recently spoke about his improvement as a pass-catcher. The second-year, fourth-round pick caught 33 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown during his rookie season. Interestingly, he did that on only 43 targets. Sanders was on the field often, but wasn't a favorite target for quarterback Bryce Young. Following an absence in Week 13 due to an injury, Sanders was almost completely uninvolved in the Carolina passing attack. He projects to be Carolina's primary tight end in 2025, but his rookie inconsistencies have made him nothing more than a late-round dart throw in fantasy football redraft leagues.
Aug 30, 2025 10:12 AM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders continues to impress during training camp this year. Sanders has been the Panthers' offensive MVP thus far in camp, according to the Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye. Sanders "is catching passes in droves and is adding yards after the catch with regularity," Kaye wrote in his Stock Watch piece on Monday. Sanders, heading into his second NFL season, also looks leaner and more muscular this year after playing at 255 pounds as a rookie. The young tight end appears primed for a breakout in 2025 on an ascending Panthers offense, making him an interesting dart-throw as a late-round option in fantasy drafts later this summer.
Aug 4, 2025 11:13 AM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has been performing very well during the team's practice sessions. According to Alex Zietlow of The Observer, Sanders caught a tough pass on a flag route and was able to find the back of the end zone. Zeitlow described that Sanders is "still shining." This is an excellent sign for the second-year tight end as he looks to enjoy a breakout season. As a rookie, the former fourth-round pick (101st overall) caught 33 passes for 342 yards and a score. Sanders began to find his footing during Week 6 and would average a solid 43.5 yards per game over the next five games before suffering a neck injury, which limited him during the final stretch. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his development as he could be worth a late-round flier in deeper leagues.
Aug 1, 2025 11:22 AM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders "lost 10 pounds during the offseason and looked faster during OTAs," according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Carolina drafted Sanders in the fourth round out of Texas in 2024. He appeared in 16 games (eight starts) as a rookie, logging 33 catches for 342 yards and one touchdown. Sanders should have an opportunity to earn significant playing time in his second season. His main competition at tight end in Carolina is Tommy Tremble, who has recorded 23 receptions in each of the past two seasons, and Mitchell Evans, a fifth-round selection by the team in this year's draft. With a good training camp and preseason, Sanders could be an intriguing late-round dart throw at the tight end position in deeper leagues.
Jul 21, 2025 9:19 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders earned one target in Week 17 and turned that into a five-yard reception in Sunday's 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this one, Sanders took a clear backseat to the Panthers' receivers, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette. In addition, the Buccaneers dictated game flow in this one, as they dominated the game and time of possession with 41 minutes compared to the Panthers' 19, making it difficult for Carolina's playmakers to make a difference in this contest. Sanders became fantasy-relevant in the middle of the season with 18 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown from Week 6 through Week 10. However, since Week 14, he has only earned three total targets, making him nothing more than a dynasty stash for fantasy managers. The Panthers will travel to Atlanta this week to take on the Falcons, and Sanders should be on your bench.
Dec 30, 2024 12:34 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders is not a viable option in Week 17 when he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over his past three contests, Sanders has seen just two targets across and did not bring in any of them. However, earlier in the season, Sanders saw a solid 4.1 targets per game, during Weeks 5 through 12. During this span, he tallied 8.2 PPR points per game and found the end zone one time. The Panthers will be without top running back Chuba Hubbard (knee), which could force them to rely on Bryce Young to push the ball downfield to keep up with a potent Tampa Bay offense. However, given Sanders' unreliable target share of the past month, fantasy managers should not consider starting him in any format.
Dec 28, 2024 2:57 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders should be viewed as a risky TE2 in Week 16 when he faces the Arizona Cardinals. Over his previous two contests, Sanders has seen just two total targets and has been unable to bring in any of them. However, during Weeks 5 through 12, Sanders saw solid 4.1 targets per game and averaged 8.2 PPR points per game during this span. He tallied at least 40+ receiving yards in four of these seven games. However, as of late, Sanders as not been very involved in the Carolina passing attack. Dynasty managers should continue to hold onto him as he has shown upside at times throughout his rookie campaign. For now, he should remain out of all lineups given his unreliable target share and tough matchup as the Cardinals have allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to the tight end position.
Dec 21, 2024 2:49 PM EST
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders posted a dud during last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sanders failed to haul in his lone target of the game as he only played 49 percent of the offensive snaps. To be fair, it was his first game back from a neck injury, so possibly the Panthers were being cautious with him. The expectation is that Sanders is going to continue splitting up the reps with Tommy Tremble. That being said, Sanders won't be too appealing of a fantasy option for the Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. He should be considered a TE2 as he figures to see more involvement this week.
Dec 14, 2024 7:00 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) is officially active for Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday despite being given a questionable tag on Friday's final injury report. Sanders suffered a scary neck injury in the Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and went to the hospital, but he thankfully avoided a serious injury. He was held out of last week's overtime loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers but is returning to face the Eagles this Sunday in a game in which the Panthers will likely have to throw the ball often. The 21-year-old will continue to share playing time with Tommy Tremble in Carolina, but he's at least worth a look as a TE2 sleeper in his return with six teams on bye in Week 14. Sanders scored his first touchdown of the year in Week 10 and had a season-high 87 receiving yards in Week 9.
Dec 8, 2024 11:58 AM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) was a full practice participant on Friday but is questionable to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Week 14 action. Sanders' full practice means he's likely on the right side of questionable, but the Panthers won't be taking any chances after he suffered a scary neck injury in the Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 21-year-old could see fewer offensive snaps against Philly, too, if he's active, making him a risky TE2 streamer for fantasy purposes. However, Sanders will be an intriguing sleeper pick at a low cost in DFS if he's active after he caught nine of his 10 targets for 144 yards and a touchdown in his three previous games. If Sanders sits again this weekend, Tommy Tremble will be in play as a TE2 streamer after going for season-highs in catches (five) and receiving yards (77) in last week's overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dec 6, 2024 12:43 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) is back on the practice field on Thursday and was not seen in the no-contact red jersey that he had been wearing since his scary neck injury in the Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Sanders hasn't played since that scary head-first landing but he put in a limited practice on Wednesday, and head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that he's hopeful that Sanders will be able to return in Week 14 to face the Philadelphia Eagles. The fourth-rounder was getting more involved in the offense before his injury a few weeks ago and could be worth looking at as a TE2 streamer in deeper fantasy leagues whenever he returns. In Sanders' absence in last week's overtime loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tommy Tremble had five catches on eight targets for a season-high 77 yards.
Dec 5, 2024 1:14 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. The rookie out of Texas missed last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering a scary-looking neck injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. However, it's a great sign that he is taking part in practice and has not been placed on Injured Reserve. Sanders has caught 29 passes for 302 yards and one touchdown this year. It's a promising start for a rookie tight end, but he's not worth rolling the dice on against the strong Philadelphia Eagles secondary in Week 14 even if he returns to the lineup.
Dec 4, 2024 2:17 PM EST
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