Michael Carter rushed seven times for 18 yards in the Cardinals’ Week 18 loss to the Rams, adding three catches for 21 yards.

05 January 2026

Carter was cut by Arizona at the end of training camp. He bounced between their practice squad and active roster early in the year before injuries to James Conner and Trey Benson forced them to keep him around as a permanent member of the 53-man roster. He primarily served as the team’s top pass-catching option for the first few months of the year. Carter hit double-digit carries once before December but caught five passes on three occasions. Bam Knight then went down with an ankle injury, allowing Carter to take over as the team’s lead option between the tackles for the final month of the year. Carter finished the season with 92 carries for 333 yards and one touchdown. He also added 33 catches for 267 yards through the air. Carter, Knight, and Emari Demercado will all be options for the Cardinals’ RB3 gig next year. All three are free agents, though Carter is the only unrestricted free agent.