Carolina Panthers rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders isn’t backing down from opportunity.
With so many of his fellow tight ends currently sidelined with injuries, the 21-year-old has stepped up this summer. Head coach Dave Canales spoke on Sanders’ progress following Saturday’s outing of training camp.
“It’s exponential growth, every day,” Canales said. “What I’ve seen him do is just kinda really take big leaps in the techniques. And you’ll see that with young guys. You’ll see big leaps, and then you wanna get them to the point where it’s consistent. And then we take our incremental growth—just like some of the veteran guys who have been around.
“So JT is taking those steps that we’re looking for. Made a big play at Fan Fest to end it, to end the scrimmage on a corner. Had a couple nice plays today, nice catches. He’s doin’ it. He’s making the most of his opportunity. It’s pushed him right up with that first group, to be able to show the guys you can count on him and he’s been really dependable with that.”
The Panthers selected Sanders with the very first pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He comes over from the University of Texas fresh off a pair of First-team All-Big 12 selections—thanks, in part, to his 99 receptions, 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns between 2022 and 2023.
As of now, Carolina is currently without Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan—the team’s top three options at the tight end position from a year ago. So if Sanders keeps growing, perhaps that No. 4 spot will be a bit too small for the promising pass catcher.
