For Andre Carter II, the former Army football player, was on the Vikings practice squad until Wednesday this week.
The Minnesota Vikings have been amongst the highest pressure applying teams in the NFL in 2024. They are able to do so due to their depth they have at the edge rusher and linebacker positions. The problem when you have that depth is some of it has to stick around on the practice squad.
For Andre Carter II, the former Army football player, was on the Vikings practice squad until Wednesday this week.
The Las Vegas Raiders claimed Andre Carter II off of the Vikings practice squad on Wednesday. He was signed to their active roster and is expected to help fill the void left by All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby being out for the year.
Carter appeared in 12 games as a rookie, making just two tackles while primarily playing on special teams. In college, Carter II had 21.5 sacks with 16.5 of them coming in the 2019 season.
The Raiders make it official, sending Maxx Crosby and Sincere McCormick to injured reserve. They added four other players.
Wednesday the Raiders officially ended the seasons of Maxx Crosby and Sincere McCormick, sending both to injured reserve. They made four other moves, including filling their spots on the roster.
To replace McCormick’s spot on the roster, the team signed RB Christ Collier off the practice squad.
Collier is an undrafted rookie, originally signing with the Ravens. He joined the Raiders’ practice squad a month ago.
To add depth at defensive end with Crosby lost for the season, the team signed Andre Carter II off the Vikings practice squad.
Carter II was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad. The 6-6, 256-pound defensive end originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2023 and saw action in 12 games as a rookie. He played collegiately at Army where he finished second in the FBS with 15.5 sacks in 2021 and earned third team All-American honors.
Additionally, the Raiders added two to the practice squad, signing DE Ovie Oghoufo and RB Isaiah Spiller.
Oghoufo is and undrafted rookie, originally signing with the New York Giants. The 6-4, 250-pound defensive end played his final collegiate season at LSU in 2023 after two years at Texas (2021-22) and three at Notre Dame (2018-20). He played in 58 games with 31 starts and recorded 152 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks over his career.
Spiller was a fourth round pick the the Chargers in the 2022 draft. He has played in 15 career games and rushed 55 times for 137 yards, while adding nine receptions for 47 yards.
Here are five freshly-cut players the Panthers should look to add on Wednesday.
You might’ve heard, but the Carolina Panthers (and the rest of the NFL) were very busy on Tuesday.
Every team cut down to their initial 53-man rosters this afternoon, shaping the early stages of the 2024 campaign. For Carolina, the big move left the locker room looking a bit different than expected, and even reopened some areas of concern from the offseason.
But with the team possessing the No. 1 wavier wire priority, they’ll have an upper hand in acquiring some meaningful depth at positions of need.
Here is a handful recently-cut players the Panthers should consider adding to its roster tomorrow afternoon.
WR Noah Brown
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Brown was one of many standouts for Houston during their worst-to-first surge in 2023—recording 567 yards and two scores off 33 grabs. But in 2024, he was a bit buried on a depth chart that featured Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.
The 28-year-old is a smooth-handed player who knows how to get open and make competitive plays after the catch. He would provide more quality depth to Carolina’s wideout room.
TE Brayden Willis
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Carolina’s release of veteran Jordan Matthews has left the door open for some youth at the tight end spot, specifically for some athleticism and receiving skills.
The 49ers waived Willis on Tuesday due to his lack of consistent blocking ability in a deep room of their own. The former Oklahoma Sooner would provide Carolina with another receiving option at tight end behind rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders.
EDGE Andre Carter II
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A former draft community darling, Carter II fell to the numbers game in Minnesota despite a strong preseason.
The Panthers, who are carrying out just four outside linebackers from Tuesday, need more depth off the edge. At 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, Carter could provide steady depth as well as some presence on special teams.
EDGE K.J. Henry
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Henry was once a five-star recruit and former standout with the Clemson Tigers. Coming to Carolina would make a lot of sense, particularly for a team in need of help within the position group.
Henry offers some special teams experience and could provide some explosiveness and pass rush prowess to the defense.
CB Darnay Holmes
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Once a standout defensive back at UCLA, Holmes has had an up-and-down pro career.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is known for getting the best out of his players, no matter the talent or skill level. Holmes fits the bill as a competitive player who brings some ball production and athleticism to the table, and is worth kicking the tires on.
Carter II furthered his progress when he started the second half for the Vikings with a strip sack to get the ball back for the team.
Andre Carter II was a sack machine while playing at West Point for Army. Since coming to the NFL, the former UDFA has had a hard time getting his footing, but this preseason, he has finally found some with the Minnesota Vikings.
Carter II further his progress this preseason when he started the second half for the Vikings with a strip sack to get the ball back for the team.
The team scored 20 first-half points, and Carter II’s strip sack allowed the team to score three-point points to start the second. The defense has been dominant overall, making quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee struggle to find success.
The team’s pass rush has been impressive all preseason and now Andre Carter II has gotten in on making a big play in the backfield. The second half will allow for more edge rushers and linebackers to get involved in the same way, including Bo Richter, who is looking for a sack in his third straight game.
WE GOT THE BALL!
Coach was fired up with the start to the 2nd half.
OLB D.J. Wonnum had to leave on the medical cart with an apparent left knee injury
Minnesota Vikings edge rusher and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum leaves the game with an apparent left knee injury. Unfortunately, it may have been a non-contact injury as he injured himself as he planted to make a pass-rush move up the field. The medical cart was brought out to take him off the field.
D.J. Wonnum was having one of his best seasons since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of the University of South Carolina. Wonnum has 58 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits and 8.0 total sacks in the first 14 games this season.
With this injury, the Vikings will have to rely on Pat Jones III and possibly rookie Andre Carter II to make up the production. Wonnum is the third Vikings to be ruled out as he joins wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live game updates.
The Minnesota Vikings released the inactives list for Sunday’s week six game against the Chicago Bears
The Minnesota Vikings have released their inactives for Sunday’s week six matchup with the Chicago Bears.
S Lewis Cine
OLB Andre Carter II
TE Nick Muse
OT Hakeem Adeniji
DL Jaquelin Roy
This is Cine’s third game inactive after suffering a hamstring injury against the Los Angeles Chargers in week three. Considering he was removed from the injury report, this would be a healthy scratch.
Carter has played in one game thus far and got three pressures in 13 pass rush reps against the Carolina Panthers.
Muse has yet to be active this season after making the roster this year.
Adeniji was signed to the active roster last week but was signed for depth purposes. Not a surprise to see him inactive.
Roy being inactive is a slight surprise. In his place is Khyiris Tonga who has for some reason been inactive for the last five games.
Despite going undrafted, Carter was a highly-sought after undrafted free agent. The Vikings eventually won the sweepstakes by giving him $340,000 guaranteed, one of the largest deals given to an undrafted rookie.
Carter attended Army West Point and shined as a junior, posting 15.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2021. Carter battled some injuries during his senior season, playing in just ten games, but still posted seven tackles for loss.
Standing tall at 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 256 pounds, Carter lacks the frame of an NFL pass rusher, but his lack of experience means that with some time in an NFL weight room, he can turn it all around. Carter was one of the most athletically-gifted pass rushers in the draft, and many thought he could hear his name called during the later rounds of the draft.
Carter has some work to do to earn a 53-man roster spot, but his return to the practice field is an encouraging sign.
There were no big-money name, image, and likeness deals at Army West Point. In fact, the university overlooking the Hudson River had no N.I.L. deals because cadets are considered employees of the United States Government.
“That’s something that you look at and like, okay, yeah, that would be nice,” Carter said about NIL. “But we’re [at Army] for different reasons, you know, we’re not there for the money or anything like that. We’re there to get a great education, play football, beat Navy, beat Air Force. And then, serve this great country.”
Army’s schedule also varied from most FBS programs. While cadets still attended class and practiced football, there were “military things” that made life at West Point different.
“Earlier in the summer times with the summer training, we’re losing 20-30 pounds, the beginning each summer, during the military training, that’s something that doesn’t happen in other places,” Carter said. “And then, during the school year, we’ll have formations in the morning at lunch. And then when we return on the weekends, where everybody just gets up, and you get accountability of everybody.”
After four years of that process, it’d be hard to blame Carter for having more time on his hands.
Now that Carter is in the NFL, his schedule is no different from any other player on the team. There are still the foundations of football practice, but there are no more tests or exams. And there are none of those “military things” that Carter talked about.
“Not having to do school, have to worry about school work, and that stuff, has been a big weight off my shoulders,” Carter explained. “And now, I just find myself looking for things to do because I’m not used to having all this time on my hand. I’ll get done at three, four o’clock, and have the rest of the day to myself. That’s not something that I’m used to.”
Heading to the professional ranks has also allowed Carter to help others through his status. While it’s not NIL – a concept reserved for amateur athletes in college – Carter is able to sign brand deals, something he’s already taken advantage of.
Just months after signing his first professional contract, Carter partnered with Hoist, a U.S. Military-approved hydration drink. According to Carter, partnering with a company that shares similar views to him was a focal point.
“This the first partnership that I’ve done, and coming from the coming from the Army, I feel like it’s important for me to align myself with people who are kind of like-minded,” Carter said. “Hoist is definitely that. They’ve been around, they’re approved hydration over the US military. So, since I got to West Point, the drinks had been all over the place.”
Carter first came in contact with Hoist during basic training during his freshman year. During that time, cadets mostly received water, making Hoist a welcome sight for their eyes.
“I first came in contact during Beast. And so Beast is like basic training for freshmen at the Academy,” Carter said. “I just remember the only thing we had been getting was water. And so when we finally got something other than that, it was amazing because we weren’t getting much of anything. So it was awesome. Finally getting that delicious drink.”
Through Carter’s partnership with Hoist, proceeds from online sales will go towards Team RWB, a charity focusing on the mental and physical well-being of veterans.
“That’s definitely something that is, you know, really important because once you’re done serving in the military still have a lot of life ahead of you,” Carter said. “And we got to make sure that all our veterans are taken care of, and Team RWB is doing a great job of that.”
Like other graduates of Army, Carter will have to serve when he finishes his playing career. Carter says that when he enters, he’ll be a Field Artillery Officer, a field that intrigued him.
“I’m really excited about, once I’m done playing, I’ll then commission into the Army and do my service time that I committed to doing while I was at the academy,” Carter said. “So that’s something that I’m really excited about. Getting the opportunity to lead America sons and daughters. “
Carter was guaranteed a record (outside of the La’El Collins situation) $340k for an undrafted free agent this April. He has a lot of talent as an edge rusher but is viewed as a long-term play due to having played at Army and training to be both a cadet and a football player.
Carter will be a very intriguing player to watch during training camp, as he possesses a great first step and excellent bend for his size.
The Minnesota Vikings traded Za’Darius Smith and signed Marcus Davenport to replace him. Will the production be the same in 2023?
The 2023 season is inching closer and closer by the day and we here at Vikings Wire are previewing the season from every angle. Today, we continue profiling the Minnesota Vikings roster on the defensive side of the football.
We are currently writing player profiles on each Viking on the roster with projections for what their 2023 season could look like. How things look projecting forward is where the real intrigue lies.
Leading up to training camp, we will be looking at each position from a more in-depth perspective. Today, we will be looking at the edge rushers.
