Miles Sanders's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Mike Kaye. The 27-year-old was recently designated to return from the Injured Reserve list, where he has been since the Week 11 bye. With Chuba Hubbard (knee) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) on Injured Reserve, Sanders could make a fantasy and DFS impact if he returns for the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. However, he could ultimately share the backfield with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone. Either way, none of the Panthers' backs have a ton of upside against a Falcons defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs.

The Carolina Panthers announced on Wednesday that they opened the 21-day practice window for running back Miles Sanders (ankle) to return from Injured Reserve, meaning he can be activated to the 53-man active roster ahead of the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. With Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) going on season-ending IR last week, the Panthers could get Sanders back this weekend for additional RB depth alongside Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone and Velus Jones Jr. The 27-year-old Sanders isn't guaranteed to be active to close out the season, though, and he'll need to show enough in practice this week to get the green light. And even if Sanders is active against Atlanta, there's no guarantee he'll see enough snaps after being sidelined since Nov. 10. Sanders has averaged only 3.7 yards per carry on his 38 rushing attempts in 2024 in his second year in Carolina.UPDATE: Sanders practiced in full on Wednesday.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) was cleared to play last week, and head coach Dave Canales said he's looking forward to getting Sanders onto the practice field this week. Sanders is not being ruled out from playing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The 27-year-old is still on Injured Reserve, so if he is going to return to play in the last game of the year, Carolina will need to officially activate him by Saturday. Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) are both done for the year, but even if Sanders is able to play on Sunday, he'd likely be sharing backfield touches with both Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone and wouldn't be a viable fantasy option. Sanders hasn't played since Week 10 and was averaging a mere 3.7 yards per carry in a limited role before hurting his ankle.

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is going through "return to play" protocols on a daily basis. Sanders was placed on Injured Reserve in late November due to a sprained ankle, but it sounds like he has a shot to return to play in one of the final two games of the season for the Panthers. However, especially at this point in the year, the 27-year-old has no business being rostered in redraft fantasy leagues. He was eligible to come off IR and play in the Week 16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers have yet to open Sanders' 21-day practice window to return from IR, but that could come on Wednesday for the team's first practice of Week 17. If Sanders is able to return in the next two weeks, he'll be a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard and will likely see a limited role on offense.

The Carolina Panthers have placed running back Miles Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve. The veteran playmaker suffered a significant ankle injury during Week 10 in Germany. He had already been ruled out for Week 12, and now his placement on IR will hold him out for a minimum of four games. Sanders has appeared in 10 games this season, totaling 139 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards, and one touchdown in a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. Carolina will proceed with Hubbard in the lead-back role and Jonathon Brooks (knee) slated to make his NFL debut as the No. 2 option out of the backfield.