By R.L. Bynum
Michael Carter could go from practice squad one week, to getting one carry the next week, to starting this week.
That wild turn of events was set into motion because the Arizona Cardinals (2–2) first placed running back James Conner on injured reserve on Sept. 23 with a foot injury, and then placed Trey Benson on injured reserve on Monday with a knee injury.
This all comes after Carter earned the team’s Pat Tillman Award for scout player of the week last week.
“It’s been a lot, I’m not going to lie. You go from Pat Tillman [award] one week to starting the next. It’s a lot,” Carter said to reporters. “You can say that it’s not, but it’s kind of a lot. But I got a great support system. Unbelievable. I got the best, I feel like, as far as my parents, friends and family, everybody.”
He hasn’t had much of a chance to perform on the NFL stage in the last couple of seasons, but appears to be ready to get his opportunity at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans (CBS).
“You pray for a moment to showcase your talent and here it is, right?” said Carter, who had one carry for one yard and only played four total snaps in his season debut Sunday during the Cardinals’ 23–20 loss to the Seahawks. “I think it’s as simple as that.”
The New York Jets selected Carter in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. As a rookie in 2021, he ran for 639 yards and four touchdowns, including 118 yards on Dec. 26, 2021, against Jacksonville.
He rushed for 402 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, but the Jets waived him in November 2023, when the Arizona Cardinals claimed him. He’s mostly been on the Cardinals’ practice squad, only playing in three games last season with 35 carries for 131 yards and one touchdown.
Tar Heels in NFL
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
2024 season statistics — 5 games, 1 carry, 2 yards; suffered season-ending torn meniscus in Week 5
Week 4: Texans 26, Titans 0 (season debut) — Played off the bench, no statistics; 3 offensive snaps (4%), 15 special-teams snaps (68%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 10 catches, 116 yards (23 longest), 11.6 average, 1 TD; 3 carries, 15 yards (9 longest)
Week 4 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox: Not active for the game (shoulder injury)
Week 5 — 8:15 Monday vs. Kansas City, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
2024 season statistics — 3 games, 35 carries, 131 yards (13 longest), 1 TD; 11 catches on 11 targets, 57 yards (18 longest)
Week 4: Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20 (season debut) — 1 carry, 1 yard; 4 offensive snaps (6%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Tennessee, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 starts, 14 catches, 121 yards (29 longest)
Week 4: Rams 27, Colts 20 — Didn’t start; 4 catches on 5 targets, 24 yards (8 longest); 38 offensive snaps (62%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, Fox
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 1 game, 1 start, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended
Week 4 — 7:15 Monday vs. New York Jets, ESPN (will miss game with an ankle injury)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Second-string left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 21 tackles, 13assists, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 quarterback pressure, 1 special-teams tackle
Week 4: Texans 26, Titans 0 — Started; 10 tackles, 7 assists, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 quarterback pressure; 67 defensive snaps (94%), 8 special-teams snaps (36%)
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday at Arizona, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Second-string running back behind Najee Harris
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 54 carries, 270 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 14 catches, 110 yards (22 longest)
Week 4: Giants 21, Chargers 18 — 12 carries, 128 yards (54 longest), 1 touchdown; 5 catches on 5 targets, 37 yards (19 longest); 56 offensive snaps (89%)
Scoring play: 54-yard touchdown run, 1:27 left in the third quarter
Week 5 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Washington, Fox
Charlie Heck, Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman
Age 28 | 6–8, 311 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 tackle; 212 offensive snaps, 21 special-teams snaps
Week 4: Eagles 31, Bucs 25 — Started; 1 tackle after an interception; 72 offensive snaps (100%), 5 special-teams snaps (15%)
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday at Seattle, CBS
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 28 | 6–1, 240 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 8 tackles, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
Week 4: Steelers 24, Vikings 21 — 1 tackle, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage, 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 10 defensive snaps (13%), 11 special-teams snaps (44%)
Week 5 — Open date; next game is at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, vs. Cleveland, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 starts, 5 catches, 42 yards (11 longest), 2 TDs
Week 4: Patriots 42, Panthers 13 — Didn’t start; 1 catch on 1 target, 4 yards, 1 touchdown; 24 offensive snaps (49%), 1 defensive snap (1%)
Touchdown reception: 4-yard pass from Drake Maye with 14:13 left in the fourth quarter
Week 5 — 8:20 Sunday at Buffalo, NBC
Sam Howell, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Third-string quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); hasn’t played this season — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 4: Eagles 31, Bucs 25 — Not active for the game
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver, CBS
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 28 | 5–10, 191 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 7 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended
Week 4: Falcons 34, Commanders 27 — Started; 4 tackles, 1 pass defended; 57 defensive snaps (100%)
Week 5 — Open date; next game is at 7:15 Monday, Oct 13., vs. Buffalo, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Joshua Dobbs
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 91 of 123, 988 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 13 sacks (48 yards in losses), 109.4 passer rating; 24 carries, 98 yards (15 longest), 2 touchdowns; 3 fumbles (1 lost)
Week 4: Patriots 42, Panthers 13 — Started; 14 of 17, 203 yards (33 longest) 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 1 sack (no loss), 155.6 passer rating; 3 carries, 11 yards (5 longest), 1 touchdown; 23.22 fantasy points; 43 offensive snaps (88%)
Scoring plays:
— 5-yard touchdown run, 14:54 left in the second quarter
— 31-yard pass to Hunter Henry, 10:17 left in the third quarter
— 4-yard pass to Mack Hollins, 14:13 left in the fourth quarter
Week 5 — 8:20 Sunday at Buffalo, NBC
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 307 | third NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 4 games, 105 offensive snaps, 16 special-teams snaps
Week 4: Bills 31, Saints 19 — Played 3 special-teams snaps
Week 5 — 1 p.m Sunday vs. New York Giants, CBS
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 29 | 5–11, 205 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string free safety
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 2 tackles, 1 assist, 1 pass defended, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Week 4: Texans 26, Titans 0 — Started; 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended, 2 special-teams tackles; 45 defensive snaps (90%), 6 special-teams snaps (27%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 28 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-team middle linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 tackle, 1 special-teams tackle, 3 special-teams assists
Week 4: Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20 (Thursday night) — 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 17 special-teams snaps (63%)
Week 5 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 1 game, 1 of 2, 32 yards; 3 carries, -3 yards (3 kneel-downs)
Week 4: Bills 31, Saints 19 — Didn’t play
Week 5 — 8:20 Sunday vs. New England, NBC
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 3 catches, 60 yards, 2 touchdowns
Week 4: Chiefs 37, Ravens 20 — No statistics; called for holding; 4 offensive snaps (7%), 8 special-teams snaps (31%)
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 25 | 5–10, 220 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Miles Sanders
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 63 carries, 312 yards (30 longest), 4 touchdowns; 16 catches, 74 yards (11 longest)
Week 4: Cowboys 40, Packers 40, OT — Started; 20 carries, 85 yards (13 longest), 1 touchdown; 3 catches on 3 targets, 15 yards (9 longest); 16.0 fantasy points; 55 offensive snaps (80%)
Touchdown: 1-yard run, 4:50 left in the fourth quarter
Week 5 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
On injured reserve
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, knee injury
New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezudu (IR with designation to return), undisclosed injury
Philadelphia Eagles center Willie Lampkin, leg injury (Rams released him in camp)
On practice squads
Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker
Minnesota tight end Bryson Nesbit
On reserve/non-football injury list
Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
Waived from practice squads
Linebacker Power Echols by Chicago
Linebacker Tomon Fox by the New York Giants
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie by New England
Released during training camp
Linebacker Eugene Asanti by Miami
Tight end John Copenhaver by Jacksonville
Linebacker Desmond Evans by Tennessee
Wide receiver Nate McCollum by Arizona
Defensive back Kyler McMichael by Pittsburgh
Photo via @AZCardinals
tarheeltribune.com 