What happened to Ja'Tavion Sanders? Panthers TE carted off vs Chiefs

Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders suffered a neck injury during Sunday's Week 12 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The frightening incident occurred in the closing seconds of the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium.

The play unfolded during a critical red zone drive. Sanders hauled in a 10-yard pass from Bryce Young and picked up a first down. Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie then upended him near the sideline.

The impact sent Sanders flipping through the air. He landed on the back of his head and remained motionless on the field. Medical staff rushed to his aid as concerned teammates gathered around.

The game halted for roughly 10 minutes. Players from both teams showed solidarity, surrounding their fallen colleague as medical personnel provided immediate care.

In a reassuring moment, Ja'Tavion Sanders raised his arms and gave a thumbs-up to the fans. The medical staff carted him off on a backboard.

Ja'Tavion Sanders shows promise before an early exit

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers - Source: Imagn

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales confirmed to CBS that Sanders maintained movement in all his limbs following the scary fall.

The tight end was transported to Carolinas Medical Center for additional testing. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sanders will not return to today's game.

Before the injury, Ja'Tavion Sanders had put together a solid performance. He recorded three catches for 49 yards against the Chiefs defense. The Panthers trailed 20-6 when the incident occurred.

The fourth-round pick from Texas had been finding his rhythm in Carolina's offense. He caught 26 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown. He scored his first NFL touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 10.

No penalty flag flew on the play where Sanders was injured. The rookie had attempted to stop the clock by running out of bounds during the Panthers' push toward the end zone.