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When Michael Carter was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain on Saturday, it was assumed that Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson would take on increased roles in the Jets’ backfield.
Nobody gave Austin Walter — the No. 3 running back on New York’s depth chart after a practice squad elevation — much thought.
Walter, a former undrafted free agent who spent last season playing under Mike LaFleur in San Francisco, used Carter’s absence to make his presence felt in his return to his native Houston on Sunday. The 5-foot-8 tailback found the end zone from two yards out for the Jets’ first touchdown of the game and went on to rush nine times for 38 yards in a 21-14 victory over the Texans.
Most importantly, Walter provided the boost New York’s offense was searching for.
“He’s a fireplug or a spark plug or whatever you want to call it,” Robert Saleh said postgame.
Walter has been searching for an opportunity since he entered the NFL out of Rice University in 2019. Two stints with the 49ers, a brief stop across town with the Giants, and a year in the XFL preceded his chance with the Jets. He entered Sunday’s game with one career carry for three yards. By the time Walter’s day was over, friends and family had witnessed his first career touchdown.
Walter said that his mother predicted Saturday that he would score his first touchdown against the Texans. He chalked the prediction up to “mother’s intuition.” Walter was also confident that his father, Tony, who died four years ago, watched him find his way into the end zone from above.
“I know he had the best seat in the house,” Walter said. “He’d be bragging to all his friends.”
Walter may have some staying power in New York’s backfield after his surprise performance. La’Mical Perine, a 2020 fourth-round pick, was a healthy scratch in favor of Walter, which means the Jets already liked the latter. Walter will likely have a role until Carter returns, at the very least.
Either way, he will be able to remember his Week 12 performance as a special moment in his football journey.
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