CHARLOTTE — Miles Sanders would really like to stop talking about 2023. There's just one problem. Last year shaped the Miles Sanders that is stepping onto the field this year.

"I ain't going to lie, I don't want to talk about last year but last year left a real bad taste in my mouth," Sanders stated, confident and passionate following the Panthers training camp practice on Sunday. "So just trying to, got something to prove, or bounce back."

The 2023 campaign was statistically one of the worst of Sanders five year career. He posted career lows in caries (129) and yards (432), as well as his second worst touchdown output (one).

"I don't think nobody did me wrong," he was quick to amend. "I just didn't like how last year went. That's all. I'm not blaming nobody but myself. I'm just ready to play. I'm ready to have a better season."

So he started his offseason by going to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, resting, training and putting a year behind him that he wished he would never have to talk about again.

Sanders, who spent his first four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, has experienced highs and lows before. He's ridden the wave of the unknown in the NFL and the cruel hand of fate that can twist at the most inopportune times during games. He's bounced back before, so his practically vibrating excitement during this training camp must be par for the course, right? This must be how all of his offseason's go.

"Not like this," he quickly corrected. "Not like this."

A heel injury, which Sanders clarified on Sunday was an Achilles injury, kept the veteran running back sidelined for parts of OTAs. He's been a full participant during training camp however and making an impression on his new coaching staff.

"He looks great," Dave Canales said. "He looks like he's ready to go. He came in in great shape, he's maintaining it. He's doing the right things. I'm really excited to see him."

The part of this story that can't be ignored is that Sanders, who produced the fifth highest rushing production in 2022 (1,269 yards) could technically be considered in a competition for the starting role with Chuba Hubbard. Last season, in his third year, Hubbard posted 902 yards with five touchdowns.

"I'm not really worried about that," Sanders hedged, when asked about the competition. "What I'm worried about is coming in every day, working hard, giving energy and try to bring people along with me. So, whatever happens, happens. I'm just ready to compete and ready to win games."

Since arriving in January, Canales has preached that the Panthers are going to run the ball. That will be the team's identity and cornerstone. To do so, Canales says, the team will need a stable, not just a feature back. In other words, it's less of a starting competition and more of a chance to prove what sort of versatility they bring to the corps.

"Honestly, the battles to me, like if they're in their right state of mind, they're trying to improve their game every day," Canales said. "I don't see (Miles and Chuba) with that dynamic. They're talking, all those guys are talking and working. They take pride in that room, and it shows like they set the tempo of our practices. They finish these runs, they finish on the passes. And they kind of really work as a unit."

Regardless, after coming off the year which must not be named, Miles Sanders has something to prove, even if only to himself.

"Last year (gave me motivation) and that's all I need. That's the only motivation I need. So, y'all going to see a whole different person," Sanders promised.

Whether it's poking fun at a defender he's just outrun during drills, lowering a shoulder to take on a linebacker, dancing through stretches with safety Alex Cook or putting his helmet on his toddler son after practice and teaching him how to hold a football— "he (still) holds it like a toddler"—there's a pep in the step of someone once one of the league's best runners.

"Last year, that's all I can say," he mused, as to what has made this camp so much sweeter. "I'm just having fun out there, man. It's camp, you know, it's high intensity. I'll be in a different mode out there. So, it's just having fun out there."