Miles Sanders airs it out on Eagles, excited for fresh start with Panthers

Despite four solid seasons in Philadelphia, Miles Sanders is departing from the Eagles on frustrating terms. The way last season ended didn’t exactly sit well with the running back.

Sanders produced career numbers during the 2022 regular season. He totaled 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, helping Philadelphia to a 14-3 record. Then, in the postseason, something changed.

The Eagles diminished Sanders’ role in the playoffs, which included just a seven-carry effort in Super Bowl LVII. Philadelphia lost a 38-35 decision to Kansas City.

“Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question,” Sanders said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don’t want to make headlines, [but] if it does, I don’t care.”

Now, Sanders is leaving his home state and joining the Carolina Panthers, hoping for a fresh start. The four-year NFL veteran believes he’ll have an opportunity for a bigger role with his new squad.

“This is going to give me more opportunities to help my team win, and that’s all I’m about,” Sanders said. “I’m a team guy and I want to do whatever I can to help our team win. Making it to the Super Bowl is pretty addicting and if I knew the formula I would do it every year.”

Miles Sanders coming off best season of his career

Carolina had a big void to fill in its backfield when it traded Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers during last season. So, adding Sanders could help offset some of that loss in production.

Sanders always produced solid numbers in Philadelphia, rushing for a minimum of 754 yards every year for the Eagles. But last year marked his best year in the league.

It was the first time Sanders eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and exceeded 10 rushing touchdowns. For his efforts, the running back was awarded with a Pro Bowl honor.

Sanders doesn’t possess the same pass-catching ability out of the backfield as McCaffrey, or at least that was an aspect of his game the Eagles didn’t highlight past his rookie season. In 2019, he caught 63 passes for 507 yards. In the past three years combined, he’s totaled just 433 receiving yards.

Last year, he was responsible for just 78 receiving yards.

Consistency has been key for Sanders. In four years, he’s totaled 3,708 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns on the ground.