The Cardinals are promoting RB Michael Carter and OL Jackson Barton

The Arizona Cardinals have signed running back Michael Carter and offensive lineman Jackson Barton to the active roster one day before their crucial road game against the Carolina Panthers.

The two plays help address some deficiencies after offensive tackle Paris Johnson (knee) and running back Trey Benson (ankle) were ruled out for Sunday.

Also down on Arizona’s rushing room is Emari Demercado, who was placed on injured reserve last Saturday with a back injury.

Carter will line up behind undisputed starter James Conner and will most likely share a load with DeeJay Dallas, although it has been questionable since Friday whether he is ill.

The 5-foot-8 running back hasn’t played a snap this season but appeared in six games for the Cardinals in 2023 after being acquired from the New York Jets. He had 22 carries for 149 yards and caught nine balls (11 targets) for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Carter was selected in the fourth round (No. 107) by the Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft. He recorded more than 110 runs in his first two seasons, but lost a larger workload with the arrival of Breece Hall in 2022, who had 223 carries, 994 yards and nine total touchdowns as a dual threat in the passing game (76 catches and 76 catches). . 591 meters).

Barton, a 2019 seventh-rounder, appeared in two games this season (a start on Sept. 22 against the Detroit Lions) and has been on the Cardinals’ roster since being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. Against the Lions, the 6-foot-1, 302-pound player logged 48 snaps at right tackle and allowed just one quarterback hit and two pressures. In his only other game, Barton saw six snaps at left tackle with the score already decided, 41-10, in the Cardinals’ favor.

The 29-year-old, who played his college ball at Utah, also appeared in all three preseason games in 2024 after signing a future contract with Arizona in January.

Christian Jones, a fifth-round pick by the Cardinals in that previous draft, is listed as the team’s second option behind Johnson. He has not yet made his NFL debut.

Follow the Cardinals-Panthers on Sunday at 11 a.m. on 98.7, ArizonaSports.com and the Arizona Sports App. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 a.m

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