Tag: Carter

Texans QB Davis Mills (birth of son) didn’t travel with team

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Houston Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills didn’t travel to Pittsburgh with the team on Sunday and is listed as questionable by the club for Monday’s AFC wild-card game against the Steelers.

Mills and his wife, Tori, welcomed their first child last week and formally announced the birth of their son Saturday on Instagram.

Mills, 27, went 3-0 as a starter this season when C.J. Stroud was sidelined with a concussion.

Overall, Mills played in six games this season and passed for 915 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

In five seasons with the Texans, Mills has completed 61.8% of his passes for 7,082 yards, 40 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He was a third-round selection out of Stanford in 2021.

Rookie Graham Mertz, a sixth-round choice, is Houston’s third-string quarterback.

Houston also ruled out cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring), who didn’t travel to Pittsburgh. Carter, 25, saw action in two games this season, both on special teams.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) breaks out of the backfield against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Sept. 25, 2025.

Cardinals placing RB Trey Benson (knee) on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals are placing running back Trey Benson on injured reserve with a knee injury, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced Wednesday.

While the move requires a player to sit out a minimum of four games, ESPN reported that Benson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus and is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks.

Benson sustained a knee injury toward the end of the Cardinals’ 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday.

“Trey Benson is going IR to return,” Gannon said. “He came in Friday, and it’s a knee, but he should be able to return at some point this year.”

The Cardinals still are dealing with the loss of two-time Pro Bowl running back James Conner, who was placed on season-ending IR after sustaining an ankle injury in Arizona’s 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 21.

Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and Bam Knight are expected to handle the workload on Sunday as the Cardinals (2-2) host the winless Tennessee Titans (0-4) in Glendale, Ariz.

Benson, 23, has rushed for a team-leading 160 yards and is averaging 5.5 yards per attempt. He also has 13 receptions for 64 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) walks off the field with Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro (L) after being ejected from the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Nick Sirianni: Eagles expect NFL ruling on Jalen Carter this week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter could face a suspension for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first game of the NFL season last Thursday.

Head coach Nick Sirianni said the team should know more about any punishment or discipline for Carter this week.

“You are constantly trying to help guys not only become better football players but better men. I think that’s more important. You are always doing what’s best for the team and for those guys in every moment,” Sirianni said in a Tuesday interview with 94 WIP radio in Philadelphia.

“Accountability is so big with our organization. If you brush by mistakes, if you don’t dive into mistakes, those mistakes will linger. I’m not only talking about that incident. I’m talking about everything. There’s a death by inches when you don’t address mistakes, don’t correct mistakes, hold people accountable. That’s myself too, that’s coaches.”

Carter, 24, was ejected from the game, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a radio interview on Tuesday morning with 105.3 FM in Dallas that is enough of a deterrent to prevent players from such in-game conduct.

Asked about reports the Eagles made the best offer to the Cowboys for pass rusher Micah Parsons, Jones admitted there was a conversation but Dallas didn’t make a counter offer.

He said once the team determined it would listen to offers, the phone never stopped ringing, and they settled on a swap for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks from the Packers for the 26-year-old Parsons.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Boo Carter (23) runs with the ball against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Saul Young/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel: DB Boo Carter still with team

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel confirmed Tuesday that star defensive back Boo Carter still is with the team.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported last week that Carter had missed “numerous” team activities and had been confronted by team leaders about the absences.

Heupel addressed the situation Tuesday during the Volunteers’ on-campus media day. Preseason practice begins on Wednesday, and the season opens Aug. 30 against Syracuse in Atlanta.

“Boo is a part of our team here,” Heupel said, per On3.com. “There’s some things he’s got to accomplish to get back on the field here. Don’t have a set timetable on that.

“Our leadership council has been a part of those things, those discussions, with me and with Boo. I’m proud of what they’ve done. They care and love Boo, and want him to be his best, too. And through this thing, I think Boo sees that as well.”

As a freshman in 2024, Carter contributed 38 tackles, one interception and one sack in 13 games. He also returned 12 punts for 198 yards, a 16.5-yard average.

–Field Level Media

Jul 24, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) reacts during training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Eagles DT Jalen Carter makes training camp debut

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter participated in his first training camp practice on Monday morning.

The 2024 Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selection was sidelined for last week’s sessions with a shoulder injury.

Head coach Nick Sirianni said Monday that wide receiver DeVonta Smith will not practice because of back tightness. There is no immediate timeframe for his return.

Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder) and offensive linemen Kenyon Green (knee) and Cam Jurgens (back) remain limited participants in on-field workouts.

Carter, 24, posted 42 tackles, 16 quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games (15 starts) in 2024. He added 2.0 sacks, seven QB hits and another forced fumble in four postseason starts for the Super Bowl LIX champions.

He has 75 tackles, 25 QB hits and 10.5 sacks in 32 games (16 starts) since the Eagles drafted him in the first round (ninth overall) out of Georgia in 2023.

Sirianni said rookie safety Andrew Mukuba, who was hurt in Saturday’s practice, remains out on Monday. Sirianni did not provide any details about the second-round draft pick’s condition.

–Field Level Media

East Rutherford, NJ -- May 9, 2025 -- First round draft pick Abdul Carter during practice at Giants Rookie Minicamp.

Giants first-round LB Abdul Carter signs rookie deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Linebacker Abdul Carter, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, signed his four-year rookie contract with the New York Giants on Thursday.

Agents for the Penn State product confirmed that the fully guaranteed deal is worth $45.255 million.

Carter, 21, is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, Robert Bailey and Jason Rosenhaus.

Carter was a consensus All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with 12 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 16 games for the Nittany Lions.

–Field Level Media

Apr 25, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, US; New York Giants first round draft pick, Abdul Carter, takes questions from the media during his introduction press conference. New York Giants Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

Giants first-rounder Abdul Carter picks jersey No. 51

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After a couple weeks of browsing, New York Giants first-round pick Abdul Carter selected the No. 51 jersey off the rack of available digits on Friday.

The 21-year-old outside linebacker, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, flirted with the idea of wearing the retired jersey numbers of a couple of Hall of Famers before making his choice.

Franchise legend Lawrence Taylor rebuffed Carter’s request to bring his No. 56 out of retirement, politely telling the rookie to “be the player that he is.”

“He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor,” Taylor said to ESPN two days after the draft. “Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.”

Carter then pivoted to No. 11, the number he wore as an All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State.

That jersey number also is retired by New York in honor of quarterback Phil Simms, who said he initially was receptive to the idea. However, he was “outvoted” by his family, he told the New York Daily News.

That rejection prompted Carter to make a joke about whether he would ever find a number.

“Damn at this point imma be out there with just my last name on my jersey, no number (laughing emojis),” Carter posted on X. “Jkjk, It’s all Love. Just wanna play Football!”

Linebacker Azeez Ojulari wore No. 51 from 2021-24 but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason.

The most decorated player in Giants history to wear the number was two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl long snapper Zak DeOssie from 2007-19.

The Giants announced the jersey numbers for the rest of their rookie class: QB Jaxson Dart (6), DT Darius Alexander (91), RB Cam Skattebo (44), OL Marcus Mbow (71), TE Thomas Fidone II (86) and CB Korie Black (25).

–Field Level Media

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Browns, holding No. 2 pick, host trio of top prospects

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As the Browns inch closer to the start of the 2025 league year next week, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry has kept his focus on the draft class.

The Browns hosted three of the top-ranked prospects in the class on Wednesday: Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter as well as quarterbacks Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado).

With only the Tennessee Titans ahead of the Browns in the draft, Cleveland is casting a narrowed net before the college pro day circuit kicks into high gear. The Browns met with all three prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, where 18-minute, in-person interviews are permitted with up to 45 players in the 2025 draft pool. They also met with Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter, who has said he hopes to remain a wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

None of the four prospects worked out with their position group in Indianapolis.

Carter was not even available for a complete battery of official measurements because of his ongoing recovery from an AC joint injury in his shoulder.

The Browns entered the offseason with uncertainty at quarterback. Deshaun Watson had a second Achilles surgery and might not play in 2025. Jameis Winston can become a free agent.

Field Level Media ranks Ward as the clear No. 1 prospect at the position. The Titans also view QB as one area “we have to get right,” according to first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi.

Defense might become a higher priority for Berry and the Browns if they’re backed into a corner by defensive end Myles Garrett. After requesting a trade, Garrett responded to the Browns’ statement they would not part with the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate by stating he has no plans to sign a contract extension to stay in Cleveland.

The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) practices before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Penn State DE Abdul Carter praises Titans, wants to be No. 1 pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter wore an Eagles jersey to the Super Bowl for one final experience as a Philly fan with his dad, knowing his next stop via the NFL draft is unlikely to bring his dream of wearing that uniform to life.

Carter is not working out for NFL teams this week because of a shoulder injury he estimated was “90 percent” healed. But he’s squarely in the conversation as one of the best prospects in the 2025 draft class after posting 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss for the Nittany Lions last season.

Carter said he gets his toughness from his Philadelphia roots where he grew up dreaming of working toward being the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

“I feel like it’s very realistic,” Carter said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I feel like I’m the best player in the country. The best player should be selected No. 1.”

Carter said he kicked off interviews with NFL teams on Tuesday night and met with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel — “all about his business” — and the brass of the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 pick.

“I’m impressed with them. They’re impressed with me,” Carter said. “They have the No. 1 pick. I want to be the top pick.”

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said Tuesday he would not pass on a generational talent. While Borgonzi said the first draft board of the process is set in Nashville, he wouldn’t say which players earned priority seating.

“Abdul is a very good player,” Borgonzi said. “I don’t want to go into many evaluations of the players, but there are certainly some players at the top that fit that description of generational talent.”

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) after the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Super Bowl injury report: Two Eagles upgraded to full participants

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (illness) and running back Kenny Gainwell (concussion, knee) ramped up from limited participants in Wednesday’s practice to full participants on Thursday, according to the penultimate Super Bowl LIX injury report.

Carter popped up on the injury report earlier in the week with an illness that is reportedly going through the Eagles’ locker room. The Pro Bowler had 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in the regular season and added two sacks in the Eagles’ divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Presuming he plays, this will be the 23-year-old’s first Super Bowl. He was selected ninth overall in the 2023 draft, months after the Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.

Gainwell, 25, had 75 carries for 290 yards and one touchdown in a backup role behind Saquon Barkley this season. He’s had seven carries for 32 yards through three playoff games, as well as three receptions for 26 yards.

Defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) remained limited Thursday. Reserve offensive lineman Nick Gates, who’s yet to be active for a playoff game, was also limited by a groin issue.

The only change on the Chiefs’ side of the report was the addition of punter Matt Araiza (illness), but Araiza was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.

Receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen), who could be activated from injured reserve before the game, was limited for a second straight day. Three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was a full participant again as he nurses an ankle that he sprained on Dec. 15 against Cleveland. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) also practiced in full.

The final practice report, which comes with game designations for players as applicable, is due out Friday afternoon.

–Field Level Media