Carolina Panthers rookie TE taken to Charlotte hospital after scary moment vs. Chiefs

Bryce Young admitted that late in the first half — as the Carolina Panthers threatened to cut into the Kansas City Chiefs’ two-score lead and truly contend for the upset — something “turned off.”

That’s what happens when you saw what he and the rest of the people at Bank of America Stadium did.

Ja’Tavion Sanders, after catching a pass in the flat and leaping toward the sideline for the first-down marker, was hit mid-air and landed on the crown of his helmet. He appeared to try to immediately get up from the scary tumble but then sat motionless as the Panthers’ medical staff rushed out to treat him.

“Obviously it’s super scary when you see something like that,” said Young, the Panthers’ second-year quarterback, whose pass to Sanders was one of a mere 21 completions on his 263-yard, one-touchdown day.

Young added: “The football part kind of turns off at a time like that. It’s really rough to see. We’re all praying for him, and in that moment, we just want him to be healthy.”

The scary moment was only made scarier in the lingering moments after the fall. Sanders, a rookie tight end out of Texas, was loaded onto a stretcher board and eventually carted off the field. Sanders appeared to lift his arms and offer two thumbs up as he left the field.

The injury was later called a neck injury at the start of the second half. He was ruled out for the game shortly thereafter and was moved to a Charlotte hospital. After the game, head coach Dave Canales said Sanders had been discharged from the hospital but that he is still being evaluated.

“JT was discharged from the hospital, so that’s good news,” Canales said. “But he’s still under evaluation, so I don’t want to make any definitive comments about that. But certainly a positive sign that he’s coming back to the facility right now.”

Canales also confirmed that Sanders had movement in his extremities.

“It was a very scary play for JT,” Canales said. “So again, we’ll get more information about that and let you know.”

Sanders left Sunday’s game against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs with three catches on three targets for 49 yards. His final catch went for 10 yards.

Sanders has been a bright spot for this up-and-down Panthers offense this season. He entered Sunday with more receiving yards this season than any Carolina tight end since 2019 — back when Greg Olsen was stacking numbers in a Panthers jersey.

Ian Thomas holds the Panthers’ rookie record for receiving yards for a tight end at 333 yards, a record that Sanders looked set to break. Sanders sits at 253 receiving yards on the year.

Carolina players across the locker room were somber but hopeful when asked of Sanders’ injury. The jovial tight end saw nearly the entire Panthers sideline empty to wish him well as he was carted off the field. That included fellow rookie Jonathon Brooks, his Texas teammate and close friend who made his NFL debut with the Panthers on Sunday, as well as all of his offensive teammates.

“This game is a physical game unfortunately,” veteran offensive lineman Robert Hunt said of Sanders. “I’m praying for him, we’re all praying for him. He’s a bit part of his team. Can’t wait for him to get back. ... Love the cat, man. And he’s going to be good for a long time. So hopefully he’s alright.”