Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
One week after being involved in a frightening collision, Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Nathan Carter returned to the field with confidence — and delivered his best performance of the preseason.
Strong Showing After Difficult Week
In Friday night’s 23-20 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Carter ran for 63 yards on nine carries, including a 43-yard touchdown. His explosive score had teammates Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier celebrating wildly on the sideline.
It was a much lighter mood than the previous week. On Aug. 8, in the Falcons’ first preseason game against the Detroit Lions, Carter tried to hurdle over cornerback Morice Norris in the fourth quarter. His knee struck Norris’ helmet, snapping the defender’s head back.
Norris stayed down for about 20 minutes before being taken off the field in an ambulance and sent to a local hospital. Falcons coach Raheem Morris and Lions coach Dan Campbell agreed to end the game, with both teams gathering for a prayer at midfield.
Encouraging Update on Norris
Thankfully, Norris was moving and talking that night. He rejoined the Lions earlier this week and remains in concussion protocol, but Campbell told reporters he is “doing well.”
Carter reached out to Norris via Instagram earlier in the week to check in. “He’s doing well and that gives me a lot of encouragement,” Carter said after Friday’s game. “I think the biggest thing was that the fact that he was all right and that he was doing good, and also just being able to understand that it was a football play and that at the end of the day, my performance relies not on me trying to perform for others but me doing it for the Lord. So, I was really honing in on my faith and helping that be my peace today.”
Earning Respect in Camp
Morris said the Falcons are “very proud” to have Carter, praising his tough running style. Carter, an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State, has impressed in camp with his speed (4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and athleticism.
At his pro day, Carter posted a 40-inch vertical jump, 23 bench press reps, and a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump — numbers that would have ranked near the top among running backs at the NFL Combine.
The 23-year-old is competing with Carlos Washington Jr., Elijah Dotson, and Jashaun Corbin for the Falcons’ third running back spot. Washington, last year’s backup, is sidelined with a hamstring injury, giving Carter an opening to prove himself.
Support from the RB Room
Carter said having Robinson and Allgeier cheer him on after his touchdown meant a lot. “It’s huge,” he said. “Not just for me, but really for the entire running back room for us to be able to put stuff like that on tape. … When I scored that touchdown, the first people I saw was [Robinson and Allgeier] celebrating for me. And that’s huge because I look up to those guys so much.”
With his standout game, Carter has taken a big step toward earning a roster spot — and has shown that he can bounce back quickly from adversity.
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