LOS ANGELES — With a little over 12 minutes on the clock in the third quarter, Cardinals running back Michael Carter trucked Rams cornerback Darious Williams on a six-yard run. It wasn’t a crazy highlight reel run, but when Carter popped up, he waved his hands towards the Cardinals sideline, hoping to send a message.
“Come on y’all, that’s the energy I’ve been trying to bring every day,” Carter said. “I just wanted to get my teammates going and try to ignite them.”
A few plays later, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was able to get into the end zone for his first receiving touchdown of the season. After getting shut out in the first half, the offense was able to gather some momentum despite the 13-9 defeat.
Last weekend against the Panthers, Carter made his season debut since rookie running back Trey Benson was inactive. Later in that game, James Conner injured his knee and it forced Carter to slide into the lead back role. On Saturday night, Conner, who was questionable to play against the Rams, re-injured his knee.
“It just wasn’t right,” coach Jonathan Gannon said of Conner’s injury.
Once again, elevated from the practice squad earlier in the day, Carter found himself as a key figure on the offense.
“I knew, because (Conner’s) a little bit banged up, that I could be playing,” Carter said. “James is the type of player that if he’s fine, he’s going to play, and James actually tried to come back in, so nothing but respect for him.”
Carter rushed for 70 yards on 13 carries, including important third-down attempts late in the fourth quarter. The outing was his best performance since he rushed for 76 yards against the Bills on Nov. 6, 2022.
The Cardinals finished the game with 113 rushing yards. It’s a testament to their commitment to the running game, even with left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and right tackle Jonah Williams on Injured Reserve. Kelvin Beachum and Jackson Barton served as the bookend tackles.
Even with the banged up unit, Carter credited the offensive line for creating gaps.
“I feel like they were winning up front,” he said. “All I had to do was get my shoulders square and be patient. Every run, every play, every game is different, so I’m trying to take the plays as they come to me.”
Conner, despite being sidelined in the first half, was guiding Carter throughout the game.
“He was making sure I kept my shoulders square and the small details that it takes to have a good game,” Carter said.
The Cardinals weren’t able to secure the victory and fell to 1-5 after the bye week. In the locker room postgame, Carter shared the same frustration as his teammates, trying to find answers as to what’s changed following their 6-4 start.
What he is certain about is the ability to jump into action when called upon.
“We’re going to play our style, our game, regardless,” Carter said. “When someone else steps up in a position, the expectation or standard doesn’t go down. We’re expected to come out and compete the same way the person in front of us did.
“Everybody has got to know how to do it. It’s the NFL, they’re going to find the next guy if you can’t.”
