The Carolina Panthers are already working out who'll stay and go when final cuts are due this weekend. And the future of once-promising draft pick Ja'Tavion Sanders is hanging in the balance.
While there is still time for some to change their narratives during joint practice and a preseason game against the Houston Texans, general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales will have a good idea about what their 53-man roster will look like.
Sanders is among those fighting to stay relevant.
Ja'Tavion Sanders could be the odd man out in Carolina Panthers' tight end room
His projected 2025 breakout fell flat. The signing of Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller relatively late in the process suggests dissatisfaction with the development of those who received a reprieve this offseason.
Joe Person of The Athletic is among those who believe Waller's arrival could result in the No. 101 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft being completely off the roster, and he's not alone. Couple this with the value Feleipe Franks brings as a rotational special-teams force, and it only makes the situation more precarious.
And it's hard not to see Sanders' situation as anything but bleak right now.
"(Darren) Waller’s skill set is similar to that of (Ja'Tavion) Sanders, who could be the odd man out. (Dave) Canales called (Feleipe) Franks one of the top special teams players in the league, and the former QB has improved as a receiver."
Sanders is going about his business normally. The former Texas standout cannot do anything else until his fate is determined, and everything after that is out of his control.
The athletic pass-catcher only got one target, which he brought in for six receiving yards, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. One could argue that Sanders is being phased out, which is a far cry from the optimism that surrounded his outlook this time last year.
Ja'Tavion Sanders might benefit from a fresh start away from Carolina Panthers
Not for the first time, Sanders' momentum was dented by injury. He never looked right after, but the Panthers can only wait for so long. They are looking to take the next step, and those in power now believe Waller can provide more assistance once he gets fully up to speed.
It's a tough business, but Morgan has to do what he believes is right to take the franchise forward.
Sanders must be ready for whatever comes next. Things haven't gone quite according to plan in Carolina, but he's got the physical tools to be more impactful. There would probably be interest from elsewhere, though that might have to come on a practice squad initially.
It's not ideal, but perhaps a fresh start might be the best thing for him.
The Panthers will take through Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. Waller hasn't signed on just to be cut, and Franks deserves his place after a strong summer. That probably leaves Sanders on the outside looking in, but it's the cutthroat nature of the business.
It's a wait-and-see scenario for Sanders. But he'll probably see the writing on the wall just like the rest of us.
And if he is let go, Sanders' time in Carolina will always be tinged with what might have been.
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