Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is starting to flash in training camp and is earning the respect of his teammates.
Sanders, Carolina’s fourth round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas, has started getting more of the reps with the first-team offense lately, catching another touchdown during Sunday’s practice. Speaking with the media Monday, quarterback Bryce Young said “its’ been great” watching Sanders develop throughout camp.
“It’s been great,” Young said. “JT is super hardworking and he’s a sponge, he’s soaking up all the information. He’s done a great job with coach, with [tight ends coach] Pat [McPherson], with us out here. Anytime there’s been something, he’s always turned around and if things haven’t gone well, he’s always turned around like, ‘hey, was it me, was it you?’ He just wants to have those conversations which is great.
“I’m super excited. He’s already made some great plays and obviously it’s an adjustment, but he’s doing a great job adjusting, he’s picking things up quickly. I’m excited for him.”
“It’s been great,” Young said. “JT is super hardworking and he’s a sponge, he’s soaking up all the information. He’s done a great job with coach, with [tight ends coach] Pat [McPherson], with us out here. Anytime there’s been something, he’s always turned around and if things haven’t gone well, he’s always turned around like, ‘hey, was it me, was it you?’ He just wants to have those conversations which is great.
“I’m super excited. He’s already made some great plays and obviously it’s an adjustment, but he’s doing a great job adjusting, he’s picking things up quickly. I’m excited for him.”
Sanders was thought by some to be the second-best tight end in the draft behind the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers but slipped to the fourth round and into the hands of the Panthers. In his last two seasons with the Longhorns, Sanders hauled in 99 receptions for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns.
With both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas nursing injuries, Sanders has a real shot at becoming Carolina’s TE1.
“It’s exponential growth, every day,” head coach Dave Canales said Saturday. “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.”
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