Ian

Thomas

The mediocre blocker should be available to two-hand punch a few chest pads and occasionally earn a target on Sunday. Mayer is largely an afterthought in the Raiders’ passing game, though. His backup, TE Ian Thomas (calf), was limited on Thursday.

Mayer has not played since suffering the ankle injury in Week 12. He returns to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday with the hope of playing in Week 15 against the Eagles. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Ian Thomas, who has taken on more snaps in Mayer’s absence, did not practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury.

Terms weren’t announced. Entering his age-29 season, Thomas has caught eight passes for 63 yards over his last two seasons while dealing with calf injuries. He’s merely a depth add behind Brock Bowers. It’s possible that Thomas could compete for a real role in the offense if Michael Mayer, who the Raiders were reportedly shopping earlier this offseason, is traded.

He’ll miss at least the next four weeks. Thomas has just three catches for seven yards this year while missing several games with the calf listing, and we can’t imagine the Panthers would be desperate to bring him back in Week 16. He’s an impending free agent after the season.

With Tommy Tremble also out, J’Tavion Sanders will continue dominating Carolina’s tight end snaps. Sanders picked up his first career touchdown earlier in the day.

The rookie Sanders saw his highest usage of the season in Week 6 with Tommy Tremble (concussion) out and Ian Thomas returning to no catches on three targets. Sanders will be the lead tight end for the Panthers, though more games of heavy usage will need to be seen to make him a consistent fantasy player. Facing a struggling Commanders defense in Week 7, Sanders is worth a play as a streamer tight end.

Thomas will join rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders as the primary tight ends for the Panthers in Week 6 after Tommy Tremble was ruled out with a concussion. Neither are overly exciting for fantasy purposes outside of the deepest leagues.

The team did designate him for return, meaning the veteran tight end will miss the next four games, at minimum. Carolina’s tight end stable is wide open at present, with Tommy Tremble ruled out and a pair of rookies and converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews left standing on the active roster for Week 1. Either way, expect the offense to flow through recent addition Diontae Johnson and running back Chuba Hubbard against the Saints.

Both Tremble and backup TE Ian Thomas (calf) missed the Panthers’ first two practices this week, putting their Sunday availability in doubt. Fourth-round rookie TE Ja’Tavion Sanders is theoretically in line for starting duties in his first-ever NFL game.

Tremble told reporters on Monday that he was hopeful to play in Week 1 against the Saints. However, a DNP for the Panthers’ first practice session plus the addition of a back injury on the report don’t paint an optimistic picture. Fellow tight end Ian Thomas (calf) has been ruled out already. If Tremble follows suit, rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders will get the start and could dominate the snaps in his first NFL game. Sanders would be a low-floor TE2 if Tremble is ruled out.