Ian

Thomas

He’ll miss at least the next four weeks. Thomas has just three catches for seven yards this year while missing several games with the calf listing, and we can’t imagine the Panthers would be desperate to bring him back in Week 16. He’s an impending free agent after the season.

With Tommy Tremble also out, J’Tavion Sanders will continue dominating Carolina’s tight end snaps. Sanders picked up his first career touchdown earlier in the day.

The rookie Sanders saw his highest usage of the season in Week 6 with Tommy Tremble (concussion) out and Ian Thomas returning to no catches on three targets. Sanders will be the lead tight end for the Panthers, though more games of heavy usage will need to be seen to make him a consistent fantasy player. Facing a struggling Commanders defense in Week 7, Sanders is worth a play as a streamer tight end.

Thomas will join rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders as the primary tight ends for the Panthers in Week 6 after Tommy Tremble was ruled out with a concussion. Neither are overly exciting for fantasy purposes outside of the deepest leagues.

The team did designate him for return, meaning the veteran tight end will miss the next four games, at minimum. Carolina’s tight end stable is wide open at present, with Tommy Tremble ruled out and a pair of rookies and converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews left standing on the active roster for Week 1. Either way, expect the offense to flow through recent addition Diontae Johnson and running back Chuba Hubbard against the Saints.

Both Tremble and backup TE Ian Thomas (calf) missed the Panthers’ first two practices this week, putting their Sunday availability in doubt. Fourth-round rookie TE Ja’Tavion Sanders is theoretically in line for starting duties in his first-ever NFL game.

Tremble told reporters on Monday that he was hopeful to play in Week 1 against the Saints. However, a DNP for the Panthers’ first practice session plus the addition of a back injury on the report don’t paint an optimistic picture. Fellow tight end Ian Thomas (calf) has been ruled out already. If Tremble follows suit, rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders will get the start and could dominate the snaps in his first NFL game. Sanders would be a low-floor TE2 if Tremble is ruled out.

Rookie fourth-rounder Ja’Tavion Sanders was expected to be the Panthers tight end who would impress in the passing game. While that still may happen, Newton writes that in head coach Dave Canales’ “tight-end-friendly scheme [Thomas] has become a big target” at the position. The Panthers rank dead last in the league in tight end targets over the last four seasons, and Thomas hasn’t gone for more than 197 yards since posting a line of 36-333-2 as a rookie back in 2018. We’ll take this one with a grain of salt, but it’s possible the seven-year vet is the preferred tight end for the Panthers in 2024 if his strong offseason carries into training camp.

The Panthers are set to clear more cap space by restructuring Thomas’ contract after it was reported they would release C Bradley Bozeman. Person reports that Thomas is likely taking a pay cut, as he did last year. The 27-year-old played in 12 games in 2023, catching just five passes for 56 yards. Thomas is signed through the end of the 2024 season, and the Panthers will keep him on a restructure rather than letting him go.

Hayden Hurst (concussion) has been placed on injured reserve, leaving Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan as the Panthers’ only healthy tight ends. Sullivan saw four targets last week against the Saints while Tremble saw three. Neither are fantasy viable.