Michael Carter - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Joins Titans' practice squad The Titans added Carter to the practice squad Monday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Carter was released by the Titans on Sunday, though the team made the move Monday to add him to the practice squad. The 27-year-old was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Throughout his career with the Jets and Cardinals, he has appeared in 61 regular-season games, amassing 1,692 yards off 418 attempts and catching 145 passes for 1,038 yards while totaling 10 touchdowns. Carter has a long way to go before establishing himself as a reliable NFL running back, but he may at least get a chance to see the field for the Titans at some point during the 2026 campaign.

SEPTEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Cut loose by Tennessee The Titans released Carter on Sunday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Carter saw ample playing time down the stretch last season for the Cardinals, finishing with 333 rushing yards and a touchdown on 92 carries (3.6 average) to go with a 33-267-0 receiving line on 45 targets over 13 games. Even so, Carter didn't have a robust market in free agency this offseason and joined the Titans on a modest one-year deal in April. He was forced to compete for a job throughout training camp and the preseason and fell short in his battle for a roster spot, with Tennessee opting to keep four other running backs (Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nicholas Singleton and Julius Chestnut) over him.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

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Competing for depth role Carter will enter training camp competing for a depth role in Tennessee's backfield, Mark Mihalko of USA Today reports.

Impact Carter's familiarity with coach Robert Saleh from their time together with the Jets could help him make a quick impression in Tennessee. He boasts receiving experience and versatility, but Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are firlmy positioned atop the depth chart, while rookie Nicholas Singleton represents real competition for the No. 3 spot. Carter will need to separate from Singleton and other depth running backs Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut in order to carve out a notable role behind Pollard and Spears.

JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE

RB Michael Carter | 2026 Free Agency Carter, a fourth-round pick of the Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft, has played with both the Jets and Cardinals in his NFL career.

APRIL 1 • TENNESSEETITANS.COM

Joining Tennessee The Titans and Carter agreed to terms of a contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Since the Cardinals claimed Carter off waivers in November 2023, Carter made 22 regular-season appearances (six starts) for the team, totaling 149 carries for 613 yards (4.1 YPC) and two touchdowns and 53 catches (on 67 targets) for 357 yards and one more TD. His role was contingent on health, not only his own but also backfield mates like James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee). Considering Tennessee boasts holdover running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears and also may pounce on a top RB in the 2026 NFL Draft, Carter may find touches difficult to come by without injuries affecting the aforementioned duo.

APRIL 1 • ROTOWIRE

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Minimal production in season finale Carter rushed seven times for 18 yards, adding three catches for 21 yards in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Rams. He finished the season with 92 rushes for 333 yards and one touchdown,...

Impact Despite an uneven 2025 campaign, Carter finished the season as the team leader in carries, rushing yards, targets, receptions and receiving yards. The 26-year-old was forced into a bigger role in the backfield when teammates James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) were lost early in the season. Alongside Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, Carter handled backfield duties for a significant part of the season, allowing him to show off his abilities ahead of the 2026 offseason, in which he will become an unrestricted free agent. Though it is unclear if he'll be back with Arizona, the North Carolina product has likely done enough to garner interest from teams around the NFL as a versatile rotational player out of the backfield.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Held in check by Cincy Carter carried the ball seven times for 29 yards and caught two of four targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Bengals.

Impact The Cardinals were down 23-7 at halftime and didn't get closer, so game script wasn't in Carter's favor as a runner. He still caught multiple passes for the sixth time in seven games however, a stretch in which he's put together 214 yards on the ground with a 4.6 YPC while adding a 21-169-0 line on 30 targets. Arizona has nothing on the line but draft positioning in Week 18, but they also don't have many other healthy RBs, so Carter could remain the start in the team's season finale against the Rams.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Film Room: Carter Breaks Off Explosive, Ojulari Gets His First Sack Back Cardinals analyst A.Q. Shipley breaks down an explosive run from Michael Carter as well as BJ Ojulari's first sack since returning from his...

DECEMBER 24, 2025 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Gains 65 yards as starter Sunday Carter rushed 11 times for 65 yards while failing to collect either of his two targets in Sunday's 26-19 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Carter was officially named the starter after Bam Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve following the latter's early exit in last week's loss to Houston. The 26-year-old Carter logged seven fewer touches in Sunday's start than he did taking over mid-game for the starter in Week 15. The North Carolina product still commanded the lion's share of backfield carries, finishing well ahead of backups Corey Kiner (6-32-0) and Emari Demercado (5-30-0). Carter should continuing seeing enough volume as Arizona's fill-in starter to warrant fantasy consideration for Saturday's road tilt against the Bengals.

DECEMBER 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT: Michael Carter Finds Open Space For 21-Yard Gain Cardinals RB Michael Carter finds open space for 21-yard gain against the Atlanta Falcons.

DECEMBER 21, 2025 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Coach confirms Week 16 start Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Friday that Carter will start Sunday's game against the Falcons, Theo Mackie of AZCentral reports.

Impact Carter handled 18 touches and churned out a season-high 94 scrimmage yards after Bam Knight injured his ankle in the Week 15 loss to Houston. Knight was subsequently placed on IR, clearing the path for Carter to take on the starting role Sunday and likely for the remainder of the season, with Emari Demercado and Corey Kiner on hand for depth.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Carter Back To Being 'The Guy' In The Backfield Veteran's practice squad-to-starter story happens for second straight year

DECEMBER 18, 2025 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Week 16 Top 10 RBs to add and drop for Fantasy Football Playoffs feat. Alvin Kamara and Michael Carter The fantasy football season is rounding the final turn, and if your team is still alive, congratulations. However, you don't have a fantasy...

DECEMBER 17, 2025 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Likely to lead backfield in Week 16 Carter is expected to serve as the Cardinals' lead back in Sunday's game against the Falcons after Arizona placed Bam Knight (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, Zach Gershman of Ar...

Impact Emari Demercado and third-stringer Corey Kiner also loom as options in the Arizona backfield, but the former has been used mostly as a change-of-pace option when available this season, and the latter is an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati with one game of NFL experience. When Knight departed with an ankle sprain after playing just one snap in the Cardinals' 40-20 loss to the Texans this past Sunday, Carter stepped up to dominate the snaps (53, 80 percent share) and touches (18, for 94 yards from scrimmage) at running back. With Knight now out for the season, Carter should be poised to continue leading the Arizona ground attack, and his soundness as a pass blocker and receiver should also afford him plenty of work on passing downs. While Carter has been woefully inefficient as a runner (3.3 yards per carry on 67 totes), he could see enough volume in an up-tempo Cardinals offense to make him a useful lineup option during the fantasy playoffs.

DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy Football FAAB Report: Michael Carter, J.J. McCarthy, Colby Parkinson, and 9 More Week 16 Waiver Wire Adds Michael Carter, J.J. McCarthy, and Colby Parkinson headline this week's FAAB Report as we enter the fantasy football playoffs

DECEMBER 16, 2025 • SI.COM

Leading rusher in Week 15 loss Carter carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards and caught all four of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Texans.

Impact Bam Knight (ankle) was knocked out of the game early, leaving Carter to handle most of the work in the Arizona backfield, and he led the club in rushing yards while setting new season highs in touches, rushing yards and scrimmage yards. It's not clear if Knight will need to miss additional time, but Carter could be set for big volume once again in Week 16 against the Falcons. On the season, the fourth-year RB has 525 scrimmage yards and five total TDs in 12 games.

DECEMBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

The Cardinals Locker Room Show - Jonathan Gannon And Michael Carter React To The 40-20 Loss To Texans Dave Pasch and A.Q. Shipley provide instant reaction to the Cardinals 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 15 at NRG Stadium. Plus, Paul...

DECEMBER 14, 2025 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Struggles behind starter Sunday Carter gained 13 yards on three carries and caught two of four targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 45-17 blowout loss to the Rams.

Impact Fill-in starter Bam Knight (7-18-0) struggled against the Rams' defense, but Carter didn't fare much better in his limited opportunities. The 26-year-old depth piece is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry this season, which puts no pressure on the coaching staff to elevate Carter's role amidst all of Arizona's backfield injuries in 2025. Carter will continue to carry little fantasy value in a brutal matchup against the Texans next Sunday.

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Gets 10 touches in Week 13 Carter recorded five carries for 17 yards and gathered in five of six targets for 47 yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss at Tampa Bay.

Impact Aside from a Week 9 win in Dallas, when he was active but didn't play, Carter has handled various workloads in eight games since his season debut Week 4. The personnel available to the Cardinals backfield due to a litany of injuries has resulted in as few as one touch (Week 4) to as many as 23 touches (Week 5), but he's settled into roughly seven touches per game (6.9, to be exact) in his last six appearances. On Sunday, Carter took a back seat to Bam Knight (14 touches for 98 total yards and one TD) with Trey Benson (knee) still on injured reserve and Emari Demercado inactive due to a high-ankle sprain. If Benson and/or Demercado are able to return next Sunday against the Rams, the aforementioned workload for Carter may dry up to almost nothing, but he should remain involved as long as that duo is sidelined.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Running Back Pickups feat. Dylan Sampson and Michael Carter In many fantasy football leagues, there are only two games left in the regular season. As such, veteran fantasy football managers know that...

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Leading rusher on five carries Carter rushed five times for 28 yards while adding three receptions for 30 yards in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Jaguars.

Impact Carter finished Sunday's narrow loss as Arizona's leading rusher despite seeing five fewer carries than fill-in starter Bam Knight (10-12-1). The latter cashed in a short rushing score, making Knight the preferred fantasy option when also factoring in his starting role. Trey Benson (knee) and/or Emari Demercado (ankle) could return in Week 13, although nothing has been confirmed on either front, which would push Carter and Knight into smaller roles on offense. For now, Carter is nothing more than a desperate play for those in deeper formats against the Buccaneers next Sunday.

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Role increases Sunday Carter had two carries for six yards and gathered in five of seven targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 41-22 loss to the 49ers.

Impact Carter's 44 percent snap share marked his highest since Week 7, which can be attributed to Emari Demercado's early exit due to an ankle injury. Carter ended up playing one more offensive snap (33-32) than starting RB Bam Knight, who led the backfield with nine touches for 45 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD. The extent of Demercado's health concern is unclear, but if he misses any time and Trey Benson (knee) isn't activated from injured reserve this week, Carter would stand to split the backfield with Knight for at least this coming Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

NOVEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Are Michael Carter, Emari Demercado playing today? Why RBs are off to slow starts in Week 10 | Sporting News Arizona Cardinals running backs Emari Demercado and Michael Carter are off to a lackluster start in the Week 10 game against the Seattle Sea...

NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

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