These three Panthers players are among the starters sidelined with injuries
The Panthers practiced without several starters, including a handful of playmakers, on Wednesday in Charlotte.
Wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan (calf) and Xavier Legette (hamstring) wore walkthrough clothing while the rest of their healthy teammates wore regular practice gear. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle) also watched practice without traditional attire.
Legette missed the 30-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday with his injury. Sanders was injured late in the game.
Following practice, head coach Dave Canales said Sanders is week to week, while Legette and McMillan are both day to day.
“We’ll just have to evaluate that as we go,” Canales said about Sanders’ injury.
“We’ll take a look at (McMillan) tomorrow, move him around, and we’ll just go on from there,” Canales added. “Legette, hamstring, same thing. We’re just evaluating him each day, see if we can get both those guys back out there. But we have to just push them, gotta see what their capacity is and then make a decision.”
Wideout Hunter Renfrow (non-injury related), defensive end Tershawn “Turk” Wharton (hamstring) and outside linebackers D.J. Wonnum (hip) and Patrick Jones (hamstring) were not seen on the practice field by The Observer.
“Hunter is personal,” Canales said about Renfrow. “I don’t mind saying congratulations to the Renfrow family — invited another baby girl into the family. Another really cool moment for us.”
Wharton has been sidelined for the past two games, while Jones missed the home opener this past weekend.
Wednesday’s full injury report
- Did not participate: WR Xavier Legette (hamstring), WR Tetairoa McMillan (calf), DE Tershawn “Turk” Wharton (hamstring), OLB DJ Wonnum (hip), OLB Patrick Jones (hamstring), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle), WR Hunter Renfrow (not injury related - personal)
- Limited participation: RB Rico Dowdle (not injury related - rest), CB Jaycee Horn (not injury related - rest), OT Taylor Moton (not injury related - rest)
Tremble feeling 100% for the first time in a long time
While a large group of playmakers missed Wednesday’s practice, veteran tight end Tommy Tremble tried to make the most of every rep he received during the workout.
Tremble, now in his fifth NFL season, is feeling good after spending the entire summer on the shelf following back surgery. Tremble was activated from the physically unable to perform list before the team’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he didn’t play in a game until the season opener against the Jaguars Jacksonville.
After three games, Tremble feels like he’s fully healthy and ready for a bigger role in the offense, especially with Sanders sidelined.
“Back 100%, and this is the first time in a long time,” Tremble said. “So, I’m excited to play free football.”
Tremble has caught six passes for 38 yards during the team’s 1-2 start. While Sanders has taken on a bigger role as a pass-catcher, Tremble has led the charge as a blocker at the position.
With Sanders likely to miss Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots, Tremble could be asked to step up as more of a two-way threat in the passing game.
“That’s the one thing as a tight end you gotta be prepared for: is to get the work in,” Tremble said.
Along with Tremble, rookie Mitchell Evans — a fifth-round pick — will need to make the most of his added reps. Evans has caught two passes for 18 yards during the first three games of the season. And Tremble likes what he sees from the youngster in his early days as a Carolina contributor.
“I think a lot of confidence (is) growing,” Tremble said about Evans. “It’s hard as a rookie coming in. It’s different from college ball, the speed of the game, the tempo of the game, but he’s handled it really well. And that’s one thing I’m really happy about.
“He’s handling it a lot better than I did as a rookie. So, I’m excited for him this week. He’s going to show out.”
‘The Governor’ gets his opportunity, too
Tremble and Evans aren’t the only tight ends set for an uptick in playing time with Sanders sidelined.
James Mitchell, who made the team’s initial 53-man roster last month, is expected to be active for the first time during the regular season against the Patriots on the road.
Mitchell had an impressive summer during training camp and the preseason, and he is looking forward to showing how he can contribute within the Panthers’ offense when it matters the most.
“That made a huge difference — knowing I was able to perform well in OTAs and training camps and preseason games,” Mitchell told The Observer. “It gave me a lot of confidence. And then making the team, that alone gave me a lot of confidence that they noticed the work that I put in, and how well I was doing.
“So, now it’s just going out there in the game and doing it. Not playing the first three games is tough but just getting back in the flow of things, I’m ready to roll.”
Mitchell, 26, was a 2022 fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions. In three seasons with the Lions, Mitchell caught 13 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in 30 games.
During the preseason, Mitchell caught four passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in three games. He also blocked well and contributed on special teams.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pound tight end thinks he will fit right into the offense in Week 4.
“I pride myself on being able to be versatile, and doing a lot of things,” Mitchell said. “And I think that was one of the things that I proved in the offseason. So, whatever plays I get, I’m looking forward to executing them.”
Mitchell — who was nicknamed “The Governor” during his college football days at Virginia Tech — spent the past three weeks working on the scout team in practice. That experience has helped him stay in football shape and test his versatility.
Those reps could help Mitchell as he looks to establish himself in Carolina.
“I think last week I was doing protections in the backfield and playing fullback,” Mitchell said. “So, I just think the biggest thing for me is I’ve just been able to do a lot in the run game and the pass game. It’s kept me fresh on my skills.”
Quick hits
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that 13 former Panthers players were among the 128 preliminary nominees for the 2026 class: WR Steve Smith, LB Luke Kuechly, TE Greg Olsen, LB Thomas Davis, C Ryan Kalil, QB Jake Delhomme, OT Jordan Gross, TE Wesley Walls, WR Muhsin Muhammad, K John Kasay, CB Charles Tillman, RB/WR Eric Metcalf and LB Lee Woodall.
- Since cornerback Mike Jackson arrived in Carolina in 2024, he has the third-most pass breakups in the NFL. Through 20 games with the Panthers, Jackson has 20 pass breakups. Only Derek Stingley of the Houston Texans (21) and Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns (21) have more in that span, according to the Panthers.
- McMillan leads all rookie playmakers with 216 receiving yards through three games. He is tied for the second-most receptions by a rookie with 14 catches. He shares that catch total with Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka. Browns tight end Harold Fannin has caught 15 passes for 136 yards.
- The Panthers are one of five teams with an interception in each of their first three games. According to the Panthers, the last Carolina squad to accomplish that feat was the legendary 2015 team. That unit had an interception in each of its first four games of that campaign.
- Former Panthers running back/kick returner Raheem Blackshear signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad on Tuesday. He joins fellow former Panthers punter Johnny Hekker, safety Xavier Woods and nose tackle Shy Tuttle on the 0-3 squad.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM.
