The Carolina Panthers, in a bit of a surprise, kept five tight ends on their initial 53-man roster. But they won't be giving out jerseys to all of them as they kick off their 2026 campaign.
2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders is among the team's inactives for their regular-season opener
against the Chicago Bears. Sanders amassed 62 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns through his first two years in the NFL.With Sanders as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career, the Panthers could utilize 10th-year veteran and birthday boy Darren Waller—one of their four active tight ends on the day. Waller, who scored six touchdowns in nine games as a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2025, was officially signed almost a month ago.
Here's the
full list of inactives for the Panthers:
- QB Haynes King (Emergency QB)
- WR John Metchie III
- TE Ja'Tavion Sanders
- OT Albert Reese IV
- DL Cam Jackson
- OLB Pat Jones II
- S Zakee Wheatley
And for the visiting Bears:
- QB Miller Moss
- QB Tyson Bagent
- OL Jordan McFadden
- OL Ozzy Trapilo
- DL Jamree Kromah
- DL Jayden Loving
- S Xavier Woods
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers Week 1 inactives: 2024 draft pick a healthy scratch for first time in career
