The Panthers placed Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday. Sanders had already been ruled out for Sunday's Week 12 game against Kansas City after spraining his ankle against the Giants in Week 10 prior to Carolina's Week 11 bye. He wasn't able to practice at all this week, and his move to IR means Sanders won't be eligible to return to game action until Sunday, Dec. 22 versus Arizona. His absence comes as rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) appears set to make his NFL debut Sunday while serving as the Panthers' No. 2 back behind Chuba Hubbard.
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Status
IR - Ankle - Sprain Expected Return: 2024-12-29Latest Miles Sanders news
Team
Carolina Panthers
Birthdate
5/1/1997 (27)
Status
Injured Reserve
HT/WT
5'11", 210 lbs
Draft Info
2019: Rd 2; Pk (PHI)
Birthplace
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Position
RB
College
Penn State
Experience
6 seasons
Career History
Carolina Panthers
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Philadelphia Eagles
2019-2023
(4 seasons)
The Panthers placed Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday. Sanders had already been ruled out for Sunday's Week 12 game against Kansas City after spraining his ankle against the Giants in Week 10 prior to Carolina's Week 11 bye. He wasn't able to practice at all this week, and his move to IR means Sanders won't be eligible to return to game action until Sunday, Dec. 22 versus Arizona. His absence comes as rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) appears set to make his NFL debut Sunday while serving as the Panthers' No. 2 back behind Chuba Hubbard.
Sanders (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. Sanders was carted off the field two weeks ago in Germany against the Giants. While he avoided a serious injury, Sanders is going to miss at least one contest. The Panthers are expected to have rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) available this week alongside Chuba Hubbard.
Sanders (ankle) didn't participate in Thursday's practice. Sanders has been a spectator for both of the Panthers' first two Week 12 practices and looks to be trending toward sitting out Sunday's game against the Chiefs, just as head coach Dave Canales had intimated would be the case earlier in the week. Before Sanders is formally ruled out for the Week 12 contest, the Panthers will wait and see what, if anything, he's able to do during Friday's practice session. Sanders will likely cede the top backup role out of the backfield to rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee), who has been a full participant in practices this week and should be ready to make his NFL debut Sunday as a change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that Sanders (foot/ankle) is considered week-to-week and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Chiefs, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Sanders was carted off the field with the lower-body injury during the Panthers' Week 10 overtime win over the Giants on Nov. 10, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting three days later that the running back was viewed as day-to-day. Despite having the benefit of a Week 11 bye to aid in his recovery, Sanders' injury looks to be more significant than the Panthers initially believed, as he wasn't on the field for the team's unofficial practice session Monday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Sanders has been serving as the top backup to lead back Chuba Hubbard this season, but rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) is poised to make his NFL debut Sunday and could retain the No. 2 role even once Sanders is back to full health.
Sanders is considered day-to-day after undergoing extensive tests on his foot/ankle and meeting with a specialist Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Rapoport's report doesn't offer a precise diagnosis for the lower leg injury that Sanders suffered in this past Sunday's overtime win over the Giants, but the Panthers aren't expecting the running back to be in store for a long absence. Sanders will benefit from a Week 11 bye, but he'll need the swelling in his foot/ankle to go down before he's cleared to resume practicing. Even if Sanders is ready to go for the Panthers' next game Nov. 24 versus the Chiefs in Week 12, he could drop to third on the depth chart in the backfield behind Chuba Hubbard and rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee), the latter of whom is likely to be ready to make his NFL debut.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Sanders is seeing a specialist for his knee/foot injury Monday, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports. Sanders played six offensive snaps and rushed twice for five yards before exiting Sunday's win over the Giants with a knee/foot injury. Canales also noted the team doesn't have much information on Sanders' injury at the moment, but they should know more following Monday's specialist visit. The Panthers have a Week 11 bye, giving Sanders an extra week to recover regardless of the severity of his issue.
Sanders (foot/ankle) was forced out of Sunday's game against the Giants and won't return, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Prior to being carted off the field, Sanders carried twice for five yards. In his absence, Raheem Blackshear is available to work behind lead back Chuba Hubbard.
Sanders rushed twice for minus-5 yards in Sunday's 23-22 win over the Saints. He also caught both of his targets for minus-5 yards. Sanders was highly inefficient in the Panthers' second win of the season Sunday, losing yardage on three of his four touches. He appeared to be one of Bryce Young's favorite targets after posting a team-high seven catches in Week 8's loss to the Broncos; however, he was targeted just twice in Week 9. Expect Sanders to continue seeing little offensive work in Week 10's matchup against the Giants, especially with 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) potentially making his NFL debut.
Sanders gained seven rushing yards on his lone carry but caught all seven of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Broncos. With Bryce Young back under center for the Panthers, Sanders wound up leading the team in receptions as he became the top check-down option for the second-year QB. The seven grabs were a career high for the sixth-year RB, but he came into Sunday with only 12 catches on 17 targets over the prior seven games. The performance could still be a preview of Sanders' role in the second half of 2024 if Young remains the starting quarterback, especially if Chuba Hubbard gets traded to make room for rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) as Carolina's early-down back.