Falcons make unexpected Nathan Carter roster decision on NFL cutdown day for RB depth chart

Billy Heyen

Falcons make unexpected Nathan Carter roster decision on NFL cutdown day for RB depth chart image

On a day filled with cuts across the NFL, there's some cool news out of Atlanta.

Nathan Carter will make the Falcons' 53-man roster, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Carter will slot behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on the Atlanta RB depth chart.

He's an undrafted running back who didn't get selected in April, although he put up insane pro day numbers: a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, 23 reps on the bench press and a 40-inch vertical leap.

There's no running back who attended the NFL Combine who could match those numbers.

Carter finished his college career at Michigan State in 2024 with 499 rushing yards and five TDs in a split backfield.

MORE: Shedeur Sanders gives a sassy answer about the possibility of being cut

He's originally from Rochester, New York, where he starred at Bishop Kearney High School.

Carter played his first two college seasons at UConn. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry in a partial 2022 season, helping him earn the Big Ten transfer.

The physical specimen put up 798 yards in 2023 with the Spartans before his slightly lesser 2024 season.

Carter helped his cause this preseason with a 43-yard touchdown run.

MORE: Micah Parsons and the Cowboys get an NFC East nudge from Terry McLaurin

The Falcons clearly appreciate what they've seen from Carter so far. They know that, as long as their RBs stay healthy, he'll mostly get to watch and learn in his first year.

But his traits combined with his production this summer to make him a player they had to keep around. And now Carter will try to make the most of his NFL opportunity.

MORE NFL NEWS:

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle