MICHAEL CARTER NEWS

Earns 21 touches in season finale Carter racked up 17 carries for 43 yards and one touchdown and hauled in all four targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 47-24 victory versus the 49ers.

Impact With James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve, Carter was tasked with leading the Cardinals backfield Week 18, as he started and dominated touches among his position mates. With 21 touches overall, he easily outproduced DeeJay Dallas (two touches for 27 total yards) and Tony Jones (four carries for 55 yards and one TD), and Carter salvaged a poor per-touch performance with a four-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Carter ends the 2024 campaign with 35 rushes for 131 yards (3.7 YPC) and one TD to go with 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 57 yards in three appearances, all of which occurred Weeks 16-18 with Conner and Benson either banged-up or sidelined.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Jumps to active roster The Cardinals signed Carter off the practice squad to the active roster Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Arizona placed its top two running backs James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve over the last two days, necessitating at least one promotion to the active roster. Carter has received run the past two games, racking up 25 touches for 129 yards from scrimmage and no TDs. There's a good chance he serves as the team's No. 1 RB on Sunday against the 49ers, while DeeJay Dallas handles change-of-pace work out of the bacfield.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Week 18 picks, prop bets, waiver wire pickups, and daily fantasy advice

Is your fantasy league still playing? Need some advice on prop bets or picks? FOX Sports Research has you covered for Week 18.

JANUARY 1 • FOX SPORTS

Shifts back to practice squad Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction report.

Impact Carter was the beneficiary of No. 1 RB James Conner lasting just 12 offensive snaps before seemingly aggravating a knee injury that capped his practice reps during Week 17 prep. The former stepped in for Conner and parlayed 57 (of 79) snaps into 15 touches for 81 yards from scrimmage, including 70 yards on the ground (a 5.4 average). Meanwhile, fellow reserve back DeeJay Dallas (11 snaps) had just one catch and no carries for a second straight contest. With the status of both Conner and rookie third-rounder Trey Benson (inactive the last two games due to an ankle injury) up in the air for a Week 18 matchup with the 49ers, Carter could be Arizona's lead runner in the regular-season finale.

DECEMBER 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Steps up in Conner's absence Carter rushed 13 times for 70 yards and brought in both targets for 11 yards in the Cardinals' 13-9 loss to the Rams on Saturday night.

Impact The journeyman back unexpectedly was handed the reins of the Cardinals' ground attack after James Conner exited the game in the first half with a knee injury. With Trey Benson (ankle) inactive, Carter took over as the lead back and consistently put together productive runs while compiling his highest rushing yardage total since Week 9 of the 2022 season. If the Cardinals opt to shut Conner out for the regular-season finale against the 49ers, Carter should have a solid complementary role, at minimum, in that game assuming Benson is also active.

DECEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back on active roster The Cardinals elevated Carter from the practice squad ahead of Saturday's game at the Rams, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Arizona listed its top two running backs James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) as questionable for Week 17 action, and while the former at the very least is expected to play Saturday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Carter will serve as insurance in the event either player is limited or inactive. Last Sunday at Carolina, Carter earned 25 (of 70) offensive snaps, which he parlayed into 10 touches for 48 yards from scrimmage, and position mate DeeJay Dallas had a one-yard TD catch while notching 18 plays.

DECEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moves back to practice squad Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Carter made his season debut Sunday in Carolina and ended the contest as Arizona's lead runner after James Conner suffered a knee injury. Overall, Carter played 25 of 70 offensive snaps in the overtime loss, recording five carries for 18 yards and a team-high five catches (on five targets) for 30 yards. DeeJay Dallas also got in the act with a one-yard TD reception on 16 plays. There hasn't been a definitive update on Conner's health, but with Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve and Trey Benson (ankle) out Week 16, Carter could be a regular out of the Cardinals backfield this coming Sunday at the Rams.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moves back to practice squad Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday.

Impact Carter made his season debut in Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina and ended the contest as Arizona's lead runner after James Conner suffered a knee injury. Overall, Carter played 25 of 70 offensive snaps in the game, recording five carries for 18 yards and a team-high five catches (on five targets) for 30 yards. DeeJay Dallas also got in the act with a one-yard touchdown reception on 16 plays. The Cardinals haven't been a definitive update on Conner's health, but with Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve and Trey Benson (ankle) having sat out the Week 16 game, Carter could be a regular out of the Cardinals backfield this coming Sunday versus the Rams.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Up from practice squad The Cardinals elevated Carter from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact With Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve, Trey Benson (ankle) ruled out for Week 16 action and DeeJay Dallas (illness) listed as questionable, there's a chance Carter will serve as the direct backup to James Conner on Sunday at Carolina. Dallas likely will need to be inactive for Carter to get much, if any, run, but he's poised for his first game action of the campaign. In 45 career contests between the Jets and Cardinals, Carter has averaged 4.2 yards on his 291 carries, hauled in 101 of 140 targets for 714 yards and scored eight total touchdowns.

DECEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Lands opportunity Carter signed with the Cardinals' practice squad Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Carter joined Arizona last November after he was waived by the Jets and appeared in their last six regular-season games. A fourth-round selection in 2021, the North Carolina product will likely need an injury in the Cardinals' running back corps to see the active roster.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Waived by Arizona Carter was waived by the Cardinals on Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact The running back ended 2023 as James Conner's backup but got bumped lower after the selection of Trey Benson in the 2024 NFL Draft. Carter, a sixth-round pick in 2021, recorded 639 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie with the Jets but has been trending down ever since.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Waived by Arizona Carter was waived by the Cardinals on Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact The running back ended 2023 as James Conner's backup but got bumped lower after the selection of Trey Benson in the 2024 NFL Draft. Carter, a sixth-round pick in 2021, recorded 639 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie with the Jets but has been trending down ever since.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Competing for role behind Conner Carter is competing for standing on Arizona's roster behind starter James Conner, after having ended the 2023 season in the No. 2 role, Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic reports...

Impact Carter totaled 30 carries for 187 yards across 15 regular-season games between the Jets and Cardinals last season, in addition to 24 catches for 101 yards and one touchdown on 31 targets. Now, though, the addition of rookie third-round pick Trey Benson has crowded Arizona's backfield, and Carter is competing for standing alongside Emari Demercado (shoulder) and DeeJay Dallas, in addition to Tony Jones. It would help Carter's case to impress in the preseason, with Saturday's exhibition game against the Colts representing his next chance to do so.

AUGUST 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

RB Michael Carter Boasts 'Off-season Clarity' in Life After Jets 2021 fourth-round draft pick gets change of scenery with Arizona Cardinals

JANUARY 15, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Nets 25 rushing yards Sunday Carter recorded four carries for 25 yards during Sunday's 24-10 win at Pittsburgh.

Impact With fellow running back Emari Demercado departing early due to a neck injury, Carter was the only other Cardinals RB not named James Conner to see action Week 13. Carter's 19-yard run on third-and-6 late in the second quarter kept an eventual TD drive alive, and he now may be the team's No. 2 back moving forward considering he's averaged 5.5 yards on his eight carries in two appearances for Arizona.

DECEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches four touches in team debut Carter recorded four carries for 19 yards and reeled in all four targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 37-14 defeat to the Rams.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets picked up by Arizona The Cardinals claimed Carter off waivers Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact 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 did 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 RBs on Arizona's active roster.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggling Jets release backup running back Michael Carter in surprising move

The New York Jets waived running back Michael Carter in a surprising move for a team searching for answers on offense.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Five catches on final drive 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.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Two carries after bye Carter rushed twice for two yards and didn't catch his lone target in Sunday's 13-10 overtime win over the Giants.

Impact Carter and Dalvin Cook each got two touches, while Breece Hall turned 12 carries and nine targets into 93 scrimmage yards and the Jets' only touchdown. There's a chance the Jets will trade Cook before the Oct. 31 deadline, which would likely free up a few more touches per game for Carter, but Hall remains the clear lead back for Gang Green.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jets steadily burying themselves with commitment to Zach Wilson

Zach Wilson is not leading the Jets anywhere. The sooner they realize that — and act on it — the sooner they can salvage their season.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

NFL Week 3 top viral moments: Taylor Swift watches Kelce, Chiefs roll; Cowboys stunned

Social media was buzzing around an NFL Week 3 slate that featured pivotal games for several teams. Here are the top viral moments from Sunda...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

NFL young talent rankings: No. 5 Jets’ 2022 draft class could change team history

It's not just Aaron Rodgers who could turn the Jets around. The team has a top-tier group of young players, headed by a stellar 2022 draft c...

AUGUST 30, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

NFL trade candidates: Nine players who could be dealt before 2023 season begins

The NFL regular season begins on Sept. 7, but rosters are far from set. We look at nine players who could be moved — including 49ers QB Trey...

AUGUST 22, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Jets coach Robert Saleh 'optimistic' RB Breece Hall back by Week 1

New York head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday he's "very optimistic" that running back Breece Hall (torn ACL) will return by Week 1.

MAY 31, 2023 • FOX SPORTS