UNC Football: Michael Carter released by New York Jets

The former UNC football star running back is looking for a new NFL home after being released by the New York Jets on Tuesday afternoon.

Even though the writing has been on the wall for some time now, some rather surprising news dropped on Tuesday afternoon regarding former UNC football standout Michael Carter.

The New York Jets announced that they have released Carter. In his third season with the Jets, Carter recorded eight carries for 38 yards to go along with 15 catches for 68 yards.

Since training camp, the Jets running back room has been crowded. With the return of star Breece Hall and the signing of Dalvin Cook, it didn’t appear as if there was room for Carter, who was expected to be a trade candidate as teams trimmed their rosters prior to opening weekend.

However, the Jets elected to keep four running backs, including Carter, as they seemed to define a role for the trio of Hall, Cook, and Carter to all co-exist.

Carter was utilized as a third-down back but has been struggling of late, especially in pass-blocking situations. He has also had some issues with dropping passes, which has hurt the Jets offense on various occasions.

With Izzy Abanikanda waiting in the wings, the Jets, who feature one of the worst offensive attacks in football, have elected to release Carter to pave the way for the rookie out of Pittsburgh.

The former UNC football star will now head to waivers, as he should receive some interest from teams in need of running back depth.

A change of scenery may be good for Carter, as a chance to earn more playing time may help get his career back on track. Based on what we know from Carter’s college career, the former Tar Heel should be able to bounce back wherever his career takes him next.

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