Carolina Panthers make six roster moves ahead of Week 1 vs. New Orleans Saints

The Panthers moved Ian Thomas to the injured reserve list Saturday, which was one of six moves Carolina made ahead of its season-opener on Sunday.

The news involving Thomas, dealing with a calf injury, removes the mystery surrounding the veteran tight end’s status. He’s been out of commission since early in training camp and means he will miss the first four weeks of the season. It also thins out an already thin tight end room — what with starter Tommy Tremble, too, being ruled as “out” Friday with a hamstring/back injury.

Rookie and fourth-round draft pick Ja’Tavion Sanders will get the nod to start in Sunday’s season opener on the road against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Dave Canales confirmed Friday. He and veteran Jordan Matthews will carry the load at the position Sunday.

The Panthers’ IR list is getting more full. With the addition of Thomas on Saturday, the team now has five players on the list: Starting cornerback Dane Jackson, safety/special teams ace (and team captain) Sam Franklin, sixth-round draft pick Jaden Crumedy and DB Anthony Brown. That doesn’t include second-round pick and running back Jonathon Brooks, who is on the non-football injury list and, too, must miss the first four weeks of the NFL season.

Moving Thomas wasn’t all the Panthers did Saturday.

The team also cut defensive back and waiver-wire pickup Keenan Isaac. The move, in addition to moving Thomas to IR, opened up two spots on the Panthers’ 53-man roster. The team elected to fill those spots by signing tight end Feleipe Franks (offering some TE depth) and defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, both of whom played for the Panthers’ practice squad.

The team also made two practice-squad elevations ahead of Sunday. Running back Mike Boone and linebacker Lonnie Johnson willn be on the active roster for Sunday. This is each of their first of three available standard elevations for them on the season.

Boone, who showed who he could be in the preseason, is an adept special teams player and could find a way to impact the team in the return game. Johnson, too, is known as a special teams ace — and he may have a point to prove after getting cut from the Saints’ roster this past offseason.

The Panthers have their NFC South matchup with the Saints in the Caesars Superdome at 1 p.m. Sunday.