DeAndre

Carter

Carter went down in the first quarter of Sunday’s game on the opening kickoff and immediately left to be evaluated for a concussion. The long-time special teamer was later ruled out and will now need to clear concussion protocol if he hopes to suit up for Week 3 against the Packers.

Carter was brought in by the Browns in March with a chance to be a special teams contributor, but Cleveland will go elsewhere for their returner to open 2025. His speed makes him likely to find a new club at some point this fall.

Carter is a seven-year NFL veteran, spending most of his time as a return man. His best season as a wide receiver came in 2022, when he tallied 46 receptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns with the Chargers. Playing for the Bears last season, Carter caught nine passes for 72 yards and added 15 kick returns for 479 yards with 17 punt returns for 158 yards. The Browns add him as wide receiver depth and likely their top returner on special teams.

Carter is the only Bears player to field a kick and/or punt return since Week 7. Bears backup DB Josh Blackwell replaced Carter as the primary punt returner. It is unclear as to whether Blackwell will return kicks as well.

Carter drew the start in place of veteran Keenan Allen and started off hot, catching two targets on the team’s first drive. The offense would then struggle to move the football for the majority of the game beyond that, with the only touchdown coming on a two-yard plunge from backup running back Khalil Herbert. Carter’s time in the starting lineup likely won’t last much longer with Allen not expected to miss much time, although he is capable of playing all three starting wide receiver positions on the field so he could find himself back in the starting lineup should another injury occur ahead of him. At least for now, Carter can remain on waiver wires.

Carter spent last season with the Raiders, appearing in all 17 games while catching four passes for 39 scoreless yards. For much of his six-year career, Carter’s primary contributions have been in the return game. He returned 35 kicks and punts for 494 yards and could flourish as a kick returner under the league’s new return rules. He’ll likely have to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster but should have a good shot at handling primary kick return duties this season.

Carter would be the No. 5 receiver if cleared after practicing on a limited basis. Carter’s injury makes it likely rookie Tre Tucker is active this week.

Journeyman wideout Carter has played for four teams in the past three seasons and is coming off career highs in receptions, targets, and yards in 2022 with the Chargers. Assuming the Raiders don’t move on from Hunter Renfrow unexpectedly, this looks like a landing spot where Carter will be used more as a returner than a receiver in 2023. There’s not a lot of fantasy upside to chase between Jimmy Garoppolo and a vet-heavy depth chart that also currently holds Keelan Cole and Phillip Dorsett behind the starters.

His special teams prowess aside, Carter has turned into a capable in recent years. He posted career-high receiving totals last season with the Chargers (46-538-3), joining the team on a one-year contract after previously playing in Washington. Since entering the league in 2015 as an undrafted rookie free agent, Carter has bounced around between nine different teams, including the Raiders. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the Raiders’ practice squad but could return in a more meaningful role if the two sides agree to a deal this offseason.

Forced into a huge 2022 role because of injuries to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Carter’s 46 catches for 538 yards both blew away his previous career highs, but it was purely a marriage of desperation and convenience. Three months shy of his 30th birthday, Carter had previously never cleared 25 receptions or 300 yards receiving. Unsigned for 2023, the Chargers are not going to view Carter as a real part of their plans even if they end up re-signing him.