The Panthers will be without one of their top tight ends for at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp. Head coach Dave Canales revealed today that tight end Tommy Tremble recently underwent back surgery that could keep him sidelined at least until the start of training camp.
“Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery,” Canales said today (via the team’s website). “We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the (time). He’s 25 years old. You know, let’s get this thing while he’s young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track.”
Tremble missed a handful of games last season thanks to lingering back issues, and it sounds like the tight end is trying to avoid a similar situation in 2025. Canales said Tremble will miss at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp, and he’ll likely be rehabbing for the start of training camp (per Joe Person of The Athletic). The 24-year-old will be destined for the PUP list until that time.
Person notes that the surgery is “not expected to be season-ending,” although that hints that Tremble’s rehab could extend into the regular season. If the tight end remains on PUP following the first iteration of the Panthers’ 53-man roster, he’d be forced to miss the first four games of the upcoming campaign.
A former third-round pick, Tremble saw a relatively modest role playing alongside the likes of Ian Thomas and Hayden Hurst. He had his best showing in 2024, finishing with 23 receptions for a career-high 234 yards. Following that performance, he inked a new two-year, $16MM deal ($8MM guaranteed) with the organization this offseason.
While the Panthers would surely prefer Tremble in the lineup, the team should be fine without their most experienced tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders actually led the position grouping in offensive production in 2024, finishing with 33 catches for 342 yards. The Panthers also recently used a fifth-round pick on Mitchell Evans, and they’re rostering the likes of Dominique Dafney, James Mitchell, and Bryce Pierre at the bottom of the depth chart.