Bryce Young praises Miles Sanders for mindset during Panthers camp

The Carolina Panthers had big plans in 2023 for running back Miles Sanders, as evident by the four-year, $25.4 million contract they signed him to that offseason.

Sanders was coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Philadelphia Eagles but was unable to replicate that success in year one in Carolina. Sanders rushed for a career low 432 yards on 3.3 yards per carry and lost his starting job to Chuba Hubbard. With Hubbard still around, as well as 2024 second round pick Jonathon Brooks, nothing is guaranteed for Sanders in 2024.

Second-year quarterback Bryce Young, however, likes the way Sanders is approaching the season ahead. Speaking with the media Tuesday, Young praised Sanders for bringing an “intensity” to practice that spreads throughout the entire offense.

“Super intense,” Young said. “Again, that’s someone who cares a lot. It was rainy at the start, then great weather, got a little hot at the end and this is practice No. 4, first practice in pads, and he has a gameday mentality. He wants to come out here and maximize all of his reps. When he’s not getting reps, he’s making sure he’s locked in. And that’s something you love to see in someone like Miles and something that will permeate throughout our entire offense. But every rep, he’s doing intentionally. He has that intensity and it’s super exciting to see.”

Miles Sanders moving up the depth chart in Carolina?

To be fair to Sanders, not many Panthers were at their best in 2023. The team finished 2-15, last place in the entire NFL. Carolina made wholesale changes to its coaching staff, hiring former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as head coach.

Sanders appears to have a clean slate under Canales and has already been getting first-team reps during training camp alongside Hubbard. He should have a chance to impress this season, especially under Canales, who loves to run the rock.

“I think the teams that play well toward the end of the season are the ones that can run the football and who can stop the run,” Canales said. “In Seattle and Tampa Bay, we made sure that we established our mentality, our core runs that are important to us. … That commitment to me is the formula that I have seen work.”