The Kansas City Chiefs terminated the practice squad contract of running back Nate Carter this week as part of a series of roster moves ahead of their Week 7 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks
The official announcement from the team also included designating linebacker Cooper McDonald to return to practice from injured reserve, signing rookie linebacker Aiden Fisher to the practice squad, and waiving linebacker Cam Jones.
Carter’s release appears tied to creating space for Fisher, a former seventh-round pick of the Houston Texans who was an All-American and part of Indiana’s 2025 national championship team.
Carter, 24, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2025 draft after college stops at UConn and Michigan State.
In his rookie season with Atlanta, he appeared in seven games, rushing nine times for 60 yards (6.7 average) while contributing on special teams.
The Falcons waived him during final roster cuts in late August 2026, and the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad in early September.
He did not appear in any regular-season games for Kansas City.
At roughly 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Carter showed productive college production, including strong rushing totals at both UConn and Michigan State, where he demonstrated vision and burst.
Observers have noted his athletic profile, which could make him an appealing option for teams seeking running back depth.
The undefeated Chiefs (5-0) continue fine-tuning their roster while managing injuries and practice squad depth as they prepare for Seattle.
Carter is now a free agent and is expected to draw interest elsewhere given the ongoing demand for versatile backs across the league.
The move underscores the fluid nature of NFL practice squads, where even productive or promising players can be moved quickly to accommodate new additions or returning veterans.
For Carter, the brief stint in Kansas City ends without game action, but his limited professional experience and college background leave the door open for another opportunity.
We’ll see if the Chiefs remain undefeated this weekend.
