Panthers Week 1 injury report: Latest on Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas against the Saints

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The Carolina Panthers won’t have their top two tight ends for the season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Tommy Tremble (back/hamstring) and Ian Thomas (calf) were both listed as “out” on the team’s final injury report Friday. Backup offensive tackle Yosh Nijman was listed as “questionable” heading into the matchup.

Tremble has been the top tight end on the Panthers’ depth chart all offseason, despite being sidelined for most of training camp with a hamstring injury. Because he can’t play Sunday, the team will rely on veteran Jordan Matthews, rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders and recent addition Messiah Swinson at the position. The team also has Feleipe Franks on the practice squad.

Sanders, the team’s fourth-round pick, is coming off a strong summer in Charlotte. He produced 45 catches for 682 yards and two touchdowns during his final season with the Texas Longhorns. The Panthers recently celebrated Sanders’ training camp performance by issuing him No. 0, which he also wore in college.

Matthews, 32, comes into Sunday’s matchup after reinventing himself as a tight end over the past couple of seasons. He was previously a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, and served as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver throughout the first three years of his career.

Here is the Panthers’ entire Week 1 injury report:

OUT: TE Ian Thomas (calf), TE Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back)

Questionable: OT Yosh Nijman (tibia)