Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 252 lbs |
| Birthplace: Denton, TX |
| Age: 23 |
| School: Texas |
| Experience: 3 |
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Top Ja'Tavion Sanders News
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Healthy scratch for Week 2
Sanders (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Sanders will be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive week, with the Panthers going with four active tight ends in Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Darren Waller and Feleipe Franks for Sunday's NFC South tilt. Sanders' next chance to play is Week 3 against the Browns on Sept. 27, though there doesn't appear to be a clear path to playing time for the 2024 fourth-rounder at this time.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Inactive for Week 1
Sanders (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Sanders, a fourth-round selection of the Panthers in the 2024 NFL Draft, will be a healthy scratch for Week 1 while Carolina rolls with Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Darren Waller and Feleipe Franks as the active tight ends for Sunday's regular-season opener. Sanders' next chance to suit up is Week 2 against the Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 20, though he may not be active for a game unless there's an injury to a tight end ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Could be on roster bubble
Sanders could have to battle for a roster spot for the remainder of the preseason with the Panthers slated to sign veteran tight end Darren Waller to a one-year deal, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.
Even before the Panthers brought Waller aboard, Sanders already looked to be third on the depth chart at tight end, as he played in the team's preseason opener versus the Cardinals last week while Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans were rested. A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Sanders had still been viewed as the Panthers' top pass-catching option at the position, but he no longer holds that distinction following the addition of the 33-year-old Waller, who ended a one-year retirement last season and delivered an impressive 24-283-6 receiving line in just six games with the Dolphins. With Carolina also holding Feleipe Franks in high regard for his special-teams contributions, the team may prefer to enter the season with him as their No. 4 tight end over Sanders, who could be viewed as redundant now that Waller is in the fold.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Three catches in preseason opener
Sanders (ankle) brought in all three targets for 13 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 preseason win over the Cardinals on Thursday.
Sanders started the game and recorded his first two receptions on the Panthers' first pair of plays from scrimmage. The 2024 fourth-round pick has been solid in a rotational role over his first two seasons, posting a combined 62-532-2 line on 77 targets over 29 regular-season games. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Sanders has a chance to overtake Tommy Tremble for the No. 1 tight-end role, although it's possible head coach Dave Canales opts to continue utilizing both players in a 1A-1B type of arrangement again.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Injures ankle Tuesday
Sanders exited Tuesday's practice with an ankle injury, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
The injuries continue to pile up for Carolina, though there hasn't been any indication Sanders is dealing with a long-term problem. Sanders has appeared in 29 regular-season contests across his first two campaigns and has produced 62 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns on 77 targets. He's again expected to see snaps in the Panthers' three-man tight end committee that also involves Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Looking healthy at OTAs
Sanders (fibula) is participating in practice at OTAs on Wednesday, Alex Zietlow of The Charlette Observer reports.
Sanders is running and cutting laterally without issue at OTAs, and it appears he's officially back to full health after having undergone surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered last December. He and Tommy Tremble remain positioned as the Panthers' top options at the tight end position, with Sanders potentially being the favorite for more pass-catching utilization. Across 13 regular-season appearances in 2025, Sanders secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one score.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Rehab going well
Panthers GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Sanders (fibula) has resumed running and making cuts in his rehab and could be ready for the start of OTAs, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Sanders is recovering from surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered in late December. Across 13 regular-season appearances last year, the 2024 fourth-round pick secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown. Unless Carolina makes significant additions to the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sanders and Tommy Tremble will again operate as the team's top options at the position.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Officially placed on IR
The Panthers placed Sanders (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Sanders facing recovery from surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered on the first play of Carolina's loss to Seattle in Week 17, with the expectation being that even if the Panthers manage a deep playoff run, he will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign. With Sanders sidelined, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell will hold down the fort at TE for Carolina. Across 13 regular-season appearances in Year 2 of his NFL career, Sanders secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Has broken ankle, set for surgery
Coach Dave Canales said after Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks that Sanders suffered a broken ankle during the contest and is slated for surgery, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Based on Canales' comments, Sanders almost assuredly will miss a Week 18 matchup with the Buccaneers, the winner of whom will take the NFC South. In reality, though, Sanders' 2025 season likely is over, even if the Panthers were to make a deep playoff run. For as long as Sanders is sidelined and Carolina's campaign remains alive, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell will be the tight ends available to the offense.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Ruled out of Sunday's game
Sanders (ankle) won't return to Sunday's game versus the Seahawks, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Sanders had his lower right leg rolled up on by RB Rico Dowdle on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage Sunday. The second-year tight end needed help getting to the sideline and then was carted to the locker room before he was ruled out. Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans will take on TE duties for the Panthers for the rest of Week 17.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Suffers ankle injury Sunday
Sanders departed Sunday's game against the Seahawks due to a right ankle injury, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.
On the Panthers' first play from scrimmage in Week 17, RB Rico Dowdle tallied an 11-yard carry but rolled up into Sanders' lower right leg as he was tackled to the ground. Sanders required assistance to get off the field and then was carted to the locker room. Carolina has deemed the second-year TE questionable to return, but if Sanders isn't able to, Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans will handle snaps at the position for the rest of Sunday's outing.
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Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders: Snags TD in Week 16 win
Sanders caught both of his targets for nine yards and one touchdown in Carolina's 23-20 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Sanders' six-yard touchdown in the third quarter gave the Panthers a 20-17 lead. The tight end has produced fewer than 20 receiving yards in eight of his 12 appearances this season and offers little fantasy value headed into next Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
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