Cardinals' Michael Carter: Ends 2023 as Conner's main backup
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Carter compiled 30 carries for 187 yards and 24 catches (on 31 targets) for 101 yards and one touchdown in 15 games between the Jets and Cardinals during the 2023 season.
After racking up 338 touches in 30 contests for the Jets to begin his career, the 2021 sixth-round pick took a back seat to Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook in New York to kick off this past campaign. Carter subsequently was cut loose by the Jets after Week 10 and promptly was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. From that point on, he was the Arizona running back called on most behind starter James Conner, averaging a healthy 6.8 yards on 22 rushes. Carter has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so he and Emari Demercado likely will serve as the team's top reserve RBs in 2024.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Scores first TD of season
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Carter compiled 61 rushing yards on seven carries and caught a six-yard touchdown on his only target during Sunday's 35-31 win in Philadelphia.
Carter accounted for three of the Cardinals' six longest plays of Week 17, all of them runs (21, 18 and 16 yards). He has been alternating with Emari Demercado as Arizona's primary backup to James Conner, who again dominated the backfield with 27 touches for 133 total yards and two TDs on Sunday. Given the lack of consistent work, Carter will be tough to trust in the team's season finale Sunday versus the Seahawks.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Accounts for six touches Sunday
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Carter tallied three carries for 27 yards and three catches (on three targets) for 10 yards during Sunday's 45-29 defeat to the 49ers.
On a day in which the Cardinals racked up 234 rushing yards, Carter made the most of his sparse touches, including a long rush of 19 yards. Both he and fellow reserve running back Emari Demercado earned 18 offensive plays, but the latter was far more productive to the tune of five touches for 70 yards from scrimmage and one TD. James Conner again led Arizona's backfield with 36 plays and 17 touches for 89 total yards and a rushing score, so Carter remains second or third fiddle, at best, at the position on the Cards.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Notches four touches in team debut
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Carter recorded four carries for 19 yards and reeled in all four targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Rams.
In his Cardinals debut, Carter took on a surprising snap share (38 percent) behind starting running back James Conner (42 percent) while ranking ahead of the returning Emari Demercado (20 percent). Carter actually outproduced Conner in total yards, 34-32, on two fewer touches, and Demercado was a distant third in the category with three touches (all carries) for 15 yards. Arizona may have been easing Demercado back in after he missed the previous three contests due to a toe injury, but the breakdown of reps between the three bears watching to see if Carter may be the preferred No. 2 RB option ahead of Demercado, starting Sunday in Pittsburgh.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Has chance to play Saturday
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Carter may be a part of the Cardinals backfield Sunday at Houston with Emari Demercado (toe) ruled out for the contest, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
James Conner owns Arizona's backfield when healthy, and he proved as much this past Sunday against the Falcons after a stint on IR, handling 63 percent of snaps and turning 16 carries into 73 yards. That left only three rushes combined for Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones, and with the team claiming Carter off waivers Wednesday, his presence may result in Jones not being elevated from the practice squad this week. On the season, Carter averaged 4.8 yards on his eight carries and also hauled in 15 of 20 targets for 68 yards in nine games for the Jets.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Gets picked up by Arizona
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The Cardinals claimed Carter off waivers Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Despite having James Conner (knee) back in the fold as of this past Sunday against the Falcons, the Cardinals are exploring all options to round out their backfield depth. Carter didn't get much work in nine appearances for the Jets this season, but he averaged 4.8 yards on his eight carries and also reeled in 15 of his 20 targets. Behind Conner, Carter will join Emari Demercado (toe) and Keaontay Ingram as reserve backs on Arizona's active roster.
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Michael Carter: Cut loose by Jets
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The Jets waived Carter on Tuesday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.
Carter accounted for 964 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over 14 games as a rookie in 2021, but his role has declined in the subsequent two seasons after the Jets drafted a franchise back in Breece Hall and then brought in a high-profile free agent in Dalvin Cook this offseason. While serving as the Jets' No. 3 option, Carter has eight carries for 38 yards to go with 15 catches for 48 yards over nine games in 2023. His lack of efficiency as the team's third-down back appears to be the impetus for the Jets to move on from him and open up opportunities for rookie fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda, who had yet to make his NFL debut.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Blanked in Week 10
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Carter didn't record a rushing attempt and failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 16-12 loss to the Raiders.
Carter took advantage of some extra usage in a blowout Week 9 loss en route to a season-high six catches, but this game was competitive throughout, so Carter ceded the majority of snaps to Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook. Hall was on the field for 46 of New York's 66 offensive snaps, while Cook played 10 and Carter played nine.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Five catches on final drive
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Carter didn't record a carry but caught all six of his targets for 24 yards in Monday's 27-6 loss to the Chargers.
Five of Carter's six catches came on the Jets' last drive with the result no longer in doubt, as Zach Wilson consistently checked the ball down to the running back underneath with Los Angeles' defense sagging back. Breece Hall continues to handle the lion's share of touches in New York's backfield, with Carter and Dalvin Cook splitting the remaining scraps.
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Jets' Michael Carter: One carry in Week 6 win
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Carter rushed once for five yards and didn't catch his only target in Sunday's 20-14 win over the Eagles.
Carter once again finished third among New York's running backs in touches behind Breece Hall (17) and Dalvin Cook (four). Expect Carter to remain in a depth role after the Jets' Week 7 bye.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Continues to fill depth role
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Carter rushed once for eight yards and caught all three of his targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 31-21 win over the Broncos.
Carter and Breece Hall were each targeted three times while Dalvin Cook finished without a target, but Hall worked as the clear bellcow on the ground with 22 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown. Cook rushed six times for 23 yards and is averaging 2.7 yards per rushing attempt compared to Carter's five carries for 31 yards (6.2 YPC) in 2023. Carter's superior efficiency could allow him to supplant Cook as the primary backup to Hall down the line, but Hall should continue to handle the majority of opportunities in the Jets' backfield as long as he's healthy.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Limited to three touches again
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Carter rushed once for nine yards and caught two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Chiefs.
Carter's three touches tied a season-high mark that he has now reached in three of four games. Barring an injury to Breece Hall or Dalvin Cook, Carter will likely remain an afterthought in the Jets' offense, though he could supplant Cook as the No. 2 running back if the veteran continues to struggle. Cook has just 58 rushing yards on 23 carries (2.3 YPC), while Carter has 23 yards on four rushing attempts (5.8 YPC).
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Jets' Michael Carter: One touch in Week 3 loss
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Carter didn't have a rushing attempt and caught his only target for three yards in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Patriots.
Carter continues to work as the clear No. 3 running back behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, who had 18 rushing yards apiece on 12 and eight carries, respectively. Between Carter's lack of playing time and the Jets' collective struggles on offense, Carter won't be a recommended fantasy option in Week 4 against Kansas City.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Part of unproductive RB rotation
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Carter rushed twice for eight yards and caught one of two targets for three yards in Sunday's 30-10 loss to the Cowboys.
The Jets fell behind early and failed to establish the run. Fellow running backs Breece Hall (four carries for nine yards) and Dalvin Cook (four carries for seven yards) fared no better than Carter on the ground, while quarterback Zach Wilson led the team with 36 rushing yards on five scrambles. New York will look to bounce back at home against the Patriots in Week 3, but Carter remains third in the backfield pecking order behind Hall and Cook.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Effective on first two drives
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Carter rushed four times for 19 yards and caught both of his targets for 34 yards in Saturday's 27-0 preseason win over the Panthers.
Carter got the start, but Zonovan Knight (16 yards on five touches) also mixed in on the team's first possession as both running backs made their respective preseason debuts after sitting out the Hall of Fame Game. A 25-yard catch on the opening possession accounted for almost half of Carter's yardage, which was accrued across the Jets' first two drives. In the event that Breece Hall's (knee) absence lingers into the regular season, Carter and Knight would likely open the season in a timeshare, but Carter's superior receiving skills should allow him to carve out a change-of-pace role even once Hall is healthy. Rookie fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda is also vying for playing time, but he's likely more of a threat to Knight's role than Carter's.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Just five total yards in Week 17
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Carter rushed once for two yards and caught two of three targets for three yards in Sunday's 23-6 loss to Seattle.
Carter was used sparingly while Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight racked up eight rushing attempts apiece, totaling 46 and 27 yards, respectively. New York's injury-riddled offense has fallen apart down the stretch, and Carter hasn't mustered more than 21 rushing yards in a game since Week 9. The 2021 fourth-round pick will wrap up his second NFL season against the Dolphins in Week 18.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Leading receiver in Week 16 loss
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Carter rushed twice for six yards and brought in all five targets for 44 yards in the Jets' 19-3 loss to the Jaguars on Thursday night.
The conventional Jets ground attack was an abject failure Thursday -- Carter, Zonovan Knight and Ty Johnson combined for 11 yards on 10 carries -- but Carter found a way to salvage his night somewhat with his work through the air. The second-year back paced the Jets in receptions and receiving yards, with both totals also serving as his second highest of the campaign. Given the general state of disarray the Jets' offense is in, it's difficult to predict if there will be a clear-cut early-down back between Carter and Knight in a Week 17 road matchup against the vulnerable Seahawks run defense a week from Sunday.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Five touches in Week 15
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Carte rushed four times for 15 yards and caught his only target for 16 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Lions.
After going without a touch well into the third quarter, Carter made a spectacular play to bail out quarterback Zach Wilson, plucking a sitting duck of a throw out of the air for a 16-yard gain. Carter was rewarded with rushing attempts on the next two plays, which went for a combined nine yards. He added two more carries over the course of the game and was more effective on a per-touch basis than Zonovan Knight, who mustered only 23 yards on 13 carries. Carter may get more touches Thursday against the Jaguars if Knight struggles early, though New York could also opt to reintroduce James Robinson (coach's decision) into the backfield mix against Robinson's former team.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Struggles in return from injury
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Carter (ankle) rushed five times for five yards and caught three of six targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 20-12 loss to Buffalo. He also lost a fumble.
Carter ceded most of the backfield opportunities to Zonovan Knight, who rushed for 71 yards and New York's only touchdown on 17 attempts. The former also lost a crucial fumble just outside the red zone with the Jets trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter. This disastrous performance won't help Carter cut into Knight's workload in Week 15, though there could be enough opportunities to go around for both Jets running backs to find success against the leaky Lions run defense.
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Jets' Michael Carter: Inactive Sunday
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Carter (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Carter, who is dealing with a reported low-ankle sprain, didn't practice this past week before being deemed doubtful for the contest. In Carter's absence, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network relays via coach Robert Saleh that the Jets plan to utilize a backfield-by-committee in Week 13 that will include rookie Zonovan Knight, Ty Johnson and James Robinson. Of the three, Knight, who carried 14 times for 69 yards and caught all three of his targets for 34 yards in relief of Carter last weekend versus Chicago, looks like the upside play, though Johnson (five carries for 62 yards and TD, plus one catch for 16 yards against the Bears) should also factor in, while Robinson (a healthy scratch last week) will look to reclaim a role in New York's backfield in his return to the mix. Carter's next chance to return to the lineup will arrive in Week 14 when the Jets face the Bills on the road.
