Washington wide receiver DeAndre Carter won a roster in training camp for his ability to return kicks and punts. In Sunday’s Week 5 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Carter justified that roster spot with a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.
On Wednesday, Carter was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance last week.
In the win, Carter returned three kicks for 152 yards, averaging 50 yards per return. Due to the injuries at wide receiver, Carter also played some offense and made a critical 24-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
Carter’s story is one of perseverance. An undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State in 2015, Carter is playing for his eighth NFL organization in 2021.
Washington has been in dire need of consistency in the return game for years. Carter didn’t break a return until Sunday but has been close all season. One area where Washington likes Carter is his decisiveness as a returner. He sees a lane and goes. There is no stopping and going sideline to sideline. Carter catches the football and goes upfield.
Congratulations to Carter for this accomplishment.
