Surprising Shakeup: Jets Send Former Fourth-Round Draft Pick Packing

Third-year running back released as offense remains stuck in neutral

The New York Jets made a surprise roster move on Tuesday afternoon, releasing their former fourth-round draft pick.

The team announced that it has parted ways with third-year running back Michael Carter, who has appeared in all nine games thus far this season. 

The announcement comes amidst the team's continued offensive struggles. The Jets have not scored a touchdown in their last 11 quarters and own the NFL's third-lowest points per game (16.0) average.

The 24-year-old Carter recorded nine offensive snaps in the Week 10 road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He did not carry the ball and was targeted as a receiver on one pass play.

With Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook ahead of him of the depth chart this year, Carter was subjected to a limited role as a third-down back deployed primarily for his pass pro ability. He rushed for 38 yards on eight carries and added 68 yards on 15 receptions.

The Jets selected Carter No. 107 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He showed promise as a rookie, gaining 964 yards from scrimmage in 14 games. In 2022, his efficiency took a dip with his yards per carry average dropping to 3.5 Through 39 games with the Jets, including 21 starts, Carter rushed 269 times for 1,079 yards and added 681 receiving yards on 92 catches.

Carter's release could open the door for fifth-round rookie running back Israel Abanikanda, who won the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference rushing title at Pitt. The Brooklyn native has been a gameday inactive for the schedule's first nine weeks.

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