Pats Pulpit
The Patriots will host a Carolina Panthers team this week that will make the trip to New England without its starting tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders, one of the most productive players on Carolina’s roster and a top target for quarterback Bryce Young, will miss the game due to a high ankle sprain.
Sanders suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of his team’s Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons. According to a report by Joe Person of The Athletic, an MRI on Monday revealed the severity of the ailment and that is now expected to keep the 22-year-old sidelined for multiple weeks — including Sunday’s game in Foxborough.
A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Sanders was on the field for 129 offensive snaps before his injury and ranked among the team’s top targets in the receiving game. He has seen 14 passes come his way so far this season (4th), catching 11 (2nd) for 92 yards (2nd). With him out, the Panthers will primarily rely on No. 2 tight end Tommy Tremble, with backup options Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell also part of the mix.
While the Panthers are dealing with some injury woes ahead of Week 4, the Patriots are seemingly trending in a positive direction. They did not sustain any visible major injuries in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers while last week seeing a full complement of players, including star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, take the practice fields.
The first injury report of the week is set to be released on Wednesday afternoon. Kickoff between the two 1-2 teams at Gillette Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28.
