Panthers' Sanders eager to move past bitter end to Eagles tenure
Running back Miles Sanders is eager to be a staple of the Carolina Panthers' offense after ending his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles on a sour note.
Sanders posted career bests with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season with Philadelphia. He then rushed for 132 yards and two scores during the Eagles' first two playoff contests. However, the 25-year-old remains irked after getting a season-low seven carries for 16 yards in Super Bowl LVII.
"Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question," Sanders said last week during OTAs, according to The Associated Press' Steve Reed. "If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don't want to make headlines, (but) if it does, I don't care."
Sanders said the lack of touches in the championship game wasn't the reason he left Philadelphia after four seasons.
"I can get into that another day, maybe," he said. "Maybe you should ask them why I'm moving here."
Sanders signed a four-year, $25-million contract this offseason for the opportunity to be a feature tailback in 2023.
The Pro Bowler will likely see more touches in Carolina this season following the exits of leading rushers Christian McCaffrey and D'Onta Foreman. Sanders will team up with Chuba Hubbard as well as be reunited with former position coach Duce Staley.
"This is going to give me more opportunities to help my team win - and that's all I'm about," Sanders said.
The Penn State product racked up 50 receptions for 509 yards and three scores during his rookie campaign in 2019 but didn't surpass 30 receptions or 200 receiving yards in any of his final three seasons in Philadelphia.
Carolina will turn to Sanders and its running game to take some pressure off 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young.