Ja’Tavion Sanders injury update: Dave Canales shares latest on injured Panthers TE

In the second quarter of the Panthers’ 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Carolina tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders suffered an apparent neck injury and left the game on a stretcher. On Monday, The Charlotte Observer reporter Mike Kaye provided an update on Sanders’ condition.

“Ja’Tavion Sanders avoided a serious injury, per Dave Canales,” Kaye wrote on X. “It is a neck injury and they are working through the evaluation of the injury. He’s in the building (or at least was).”

The injury occurred when Sanders reeled in a ball near the sideline and a Chiefs defender crashed into his legs, causing him to flip through the air and land on his own head. Sanders remained on the ground after the play and there was concern that he’d suffered a serious concussion or spinal injury.

After being carted off the field, Sanders was immediately taken to the hospital out of precaution. Before leaving the game, Sanders was the Panthers’ leading receiver, boasting three catches for 49 yards.

Since being drafted this offseason, Sanders has made immediate contributions to the Panthers. The former Texas standout entered the game on Sunday with 26 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown.

The Panthers selected Ja’Tavion Sanders with the No. 101 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Sanders spent three seasons at Texas, where he made 39 appearances. In his final season with the Longhorns, Sanders notched 45 receptions for 682 yards and two scores.

Following the loss, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young discussed Sanders’ impact on the team this season and the weight of his injury.

“The football part kind of turns off at a time like that and we all are just—it’s really, really rough to see,” Young said. “We’re all praying for him and we all just, in that moment, just want him to be healthy.

“JT, obviously, he’s done a lot of great things on the field and worked super hard but he’s an even better person. Someone that we all love in the locker room, all respect, how hard he works. Just the type of guy he is, who cares about everyone, always happy for everyone.”