Michael Carter, heading into NFL season No. 5, has never played in the final preseason game for his team.
It means something. Carter can't ignore the business side of the NFL and the impending cuts to the 53-man roster coming Tuesday across the league. Playing Saturday against the Raiders at State Farm Stadium means Carter and the rest of those on the field are fighting to be one of the chosen.
"The process is always so hard for me because you think you have a good idea of what may happen, but then that's not always the case," Carter said. "All you really can do is really try your best every day, execute, and I guess hope they see it."
Asked if players on the bubble are feeling the pressure, coach Jonathan Gannon said he couldn't sense it, although, "they obviously probably don't tell me (if they are)."
Carter went through this a season ago. After picking him up through the waiver wire late in 2023, Carter put together a solid first campaign with the Cardinals which included 22 carries for 149 yards over six games. Entering last offseason, Carter appeared like he'd be on the roster. But after the Cardinals signed running back DeeJay Dallas and drafted Trey Benson, Carter -- whose rookie contract salary was a likely factor too -- was released.
Carter cleared waivers and was signed to the practice squad, which he described as "really hard." When he was with the Jets, Carter totaled more than 1,000 yards rushing in his first two seasons with the team, and going from underrated player to unsigned (albeit briefly) was a challenge.
"What I've been working on the most is my ego, because we all have one," Carter said. "You kind of have to have a little bit of an ego to play this game at a pro level. The ego has to die, but the confidence doesn't."
To the leaders in the Cardinals' locker room, how a player handles their return to the practice squad is something they notice.
"If it were to happen, don't come back the next morning with a little animosity," left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. said about any player returning. "You have to be ready because if you come back with that bad taste, good, that makes sense, but it better be 'I'm continuing to work, continuing to grind.' You can't get back and sit there with your head tucked, and then when it's your time to shine, somebody else is going to get it over you because you weren't ready and continued pouting."
Johnson said he has noticed players in the past that have pouted. Gannon said Carter wasn't one of those guys. Carter proved that at the end of the season when he was elevated to the active roster and made multiple plays in games against the Panthers, Rams and 49ers.
"He loves ball, he loves to compete, loves to practice, and he always has a smile on his face," Gannon said. "He'll do whatever you tell him to do. He's a really good teammate and he's a guy that throughout his career, and specifically the time that he's been here with us, is he maximizes his opportunities."
Carter finds himself in a loaded running back room headlined by James Conner and Benson. Add Dallas for his special teams skillset and Emari Demercado as a blocking back who can generate an explosive, and Carter finds himself in the same scenario as he was in this time last season.
Which makes Saturday's outing important. With most of the starters and key contributors on the sidelines, Carter will suit up and play, like many of his teammates fighting for their roster lives. Some will be around, some will be on the practice squad, some will look to find a spot elsewhere in the NFL.
In Carter's mind, the other 31 teams aren't his focus. He said he's a Cardinal and can't think about being something else. With his confidence alive, he's ready to show why he belongs among the 53.
"It's tough to be on the practice squad because I know I'm good enough to play football every Sunday, Monday, Thursday night, whatever it is," Carter said. "I made plenty of plays, so I don't question am I good enough anymore. I question how do I get to the next level where I don't have to deal with that anymore, and then (getting) to the next level, and then the next level, whatever that may be."
Take a look at the best images from Week 5 of the 2025 Arizona Cardinals Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility, presented by Desert Financial
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) and Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones (37) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) and Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion "Rabbit" Taylor-Demerson (42) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei'Trel Clark (13) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson (0) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Jammie Robinson (26) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (35) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko (80) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Helmet during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Jeff Schwimmer during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) , Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) and Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman L.J. Collier (91) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (72) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Cody Simon (50) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter (22) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (35) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) and Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell (93) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson (0) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell (93) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Nate McCollum (39) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Denzel Burke (29) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) and Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion "Rabbit" Taylor-Demerson (42) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) with Arizona Cardinals Outside Linebackers Coach Matt Feeney during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman McClendon Curtis (66) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones (17) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
