With free agency nearing, Panthers TE Tommy Tremble looking to put injury woes behind him
Tommy Tremble knew what to do.
He saw second-year QB Bryce Young get flushed out of the pocket, with pressure in his face, so the Carolina Panthers’ tight end darted down the field for a scramble-drill “go” route. Young, who was forced to roll to his right, saw Tremble streaking past a defender and launched an anticipation pass down the sideline for his 6-foot-4, 250-pound target.
As Tremble peeked his head up to the sky, he could see the ball floating its way toward him. Tremble collected the completion and moved up the field for another 10 yards.
The play went for 38 total yards, a career-long reception for Tremble, and set the Panthers up in Tampa Bay Buccaneers territory.
“He put it on the money, and that’s not even something designed,” Tremble said about Young’s pass. “He’s a baller, he’s fun to play with, and he’s making plays for us, so I appreciate him for that.”
Tremble, 24, finished with a single-game career high of 77 receiving yards off five catches in the 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. And while he was understandably frustrated by a second consecutive close letdown at home, Tremble understood his individual performance was meaningful for him.
“It feels good to be healthy,” Tremble said. “It’s been tough — talking about dealing with stuff all year. Little injuries, nagging, all that stuff. So, to finally feel like I got my feet wet, and after not playing for football for a long time, and jumping back into stuff, it’s fun to play with my guys.”
Tremble spent the first dozen games of the season bouncing on and off the injury list.
He missed the majority of training camp and the entirety of the preseason with a nagging hamstring ailment that prevented him from participating in the Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints. And while that hamstring strain wore on his availability, Tremble also injured his back after returning to the lineup in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tremble, who was primed to be the Panthers’ full-time starter at tight end this season, has missed five games due to injury.
Tremble has watched, mostly from the sideline, as rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders has caught 29 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown in 11 games. That yards mark is the most by a Panthers tight end since 2019, which was two years before Tremble was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Tremble has always had potential. He is a sound blocker, and his receiving work, especially in the red zone, has shown glimpses of his upside. But he has also had his miscues, from his dropped end-zone target against the Kansas City Chiefs to his miscommunication with Young that led to an interception against the Denver Broncos.
And yet, despite all of that adversity, Panthers head coach Dave Canales continues to sing his praises because of his work ethic.
“Whether it’s in the run game or the pass game, he plays the game right,” Canales said Monday. “He plays at full speed. He plays it physical and aggressive. I was really happy just to see him make some plays, breaking tackles down the field, critical third downs.”
Tremble enters Week 14’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles with 15 catches for 154 yards on 22 targets.
Last season, he set career highs with 23 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns. He has the opportunity to easily set new highs during the final five-game stretch of the season.
As an impending free agent in 2025, it’s imperative that Tremble finishes strong in 2024. He’s not focused on the offseason, but a good run down the home stretch could earn him some extra cash and long-term security on the open market.
A potential uptick in production could also secure a longer stay in Carolina, where his best pal, running back Chuba Hubbard, just got a four-year, $33.2 million extension.
With Sanders dealing with a neck injury, the Panthers are likely to lean on Tremble over the next few weeks. If he can contribute big plays, like the 38-yard grab against Tampa Bay, Carolina will have a chance to play spoiler over the next month or so.
More importantly, those potential big plays would set Tremble up for the future, which at the moment seems undecided in Charlotte.
