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Bruce Carter | Linebacker

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Age / DOB:  (25) / 2/19/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 246
College: North Carolina
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Bryan Broaddus of DallasCowboys.com believes the team's new 4-3 defense will make WLB Bruce Carter a "star."
Carter has a ton of speed, and he projects as a natural fit in DC Monte Kiffin's scheme as a guy who can chase and make plays from the back side. The 25-year-old wasn't asked to rush the passer much from his old inside linebacker position, but Broaddus thinks he's going become a "problem for offenses off the edge." Carter just needs to stay off the trainer's table, and he'll be fine. May 22 - 8:47 PM

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Date:

Cowboys WLB Bruce Carter (elbow) said he's back to 100 percent.

Carter landed on IR after dislocating his ankle against the Redskins on Thanksgiving. "My arm's great. Everything is back to normal," he said. "I'm back to bench pressing, and I'm just ready to go." Carter has a shot at a breakout season as a natural weak-side 'backer in Monte Kiffin's Tampa-2 scheme.
May 9 - 8:26 AM

The Cowboys have penciled in Bruce Carter at weak-side linebacker in their new 4-3 defense.

Sean Lee will be the Mike 'backer. Carter has outstanding range and projects as a natural fit in Monte Kiffin's Tampa 2-style defense. Before an elbow injury ended Carter's 2012 season, he racked up 70 tackles across 11 starts.
Feb 22 - 5:25 PM

Cowboys placed ILB Bruce Carter (elbow) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Dallas has now lost both of its Week 1 starting inside 'backers as Carter joins Sean Lee (toe) on injured reserve. Carter finishes his second NFL season with 70 tackles, no sacks and two pass breakups in 11 games. The Cowboys will have to move forward with Ernie Sims and Dan Connor on the inside.
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 11:05:00 AM

According to ESPN Dallas, Cowboys team officials believe ILB Bruce Carter will require elbow surgery next week.

The Cowboys will know more about Carter's status Monday, but surgery would end his season. Losing Carter is a major blow to a defense that has already lost inside linebacker Sean Lee for the season to toe surgery. Without Lee and Carter, the Cowboys will have to start Ernie Sims and Dan Connor as the inside linebackers in their 3-4 defense.
Source: ESPN Dallas
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 10:41:00 AM

Cowboys ILB Bruce Carter will undergo an MRI for a dislocated elbow sustained in Thursday's loss to the Redskins.

Carter went down in the third quarter after an excellent first half. According to the Dallas Morning News, the injury will likely force Carter to miss the rest of the season. The Cowboys would be down to Dan Connor and Ernie Sims at inside linebacker after getting Pro Bowl-caliber production out of Carter and Sean Lee early in the season.
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 12:34:00 PM

Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been impressed with ILB Bruce Carter's ability to take over as the leader of the defense.

"This guy's become a hell of a football player right in front of our eyes this season. I wouldn't have predicted that. Absolutely not. But he is a tremendous football player. He’s playing as fast as his great athleticism allows him to play. He’s smart. He works hard... This kid has really become special," said Ryan. Once Sean Lee (toe) went on injured reserve after Week 7, Carter took over as the defensive signal caller and has amassed 24 tackles in the three games since.
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 02:22:00 PM

Ex-scout Bryan Broaddus believes ILB Bruce Carter has joined DeMarcus Ware, Sean Lee, and Brandon Carr as nucleus players on the Cowboys defense.

Carter and Lee may not be as physical as the 49ers dynamic duo of Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman, but they're just as fast -- if not faster. Carter is still working out the kinks in coverage, but he's closing as quickly as any linebacker in run support.
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 06:31:00 PM

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes Bruce Carter is the "fastest inside linebacker in the NFL."

"We are faster," Jones said in a Friday radio appearance. "There's no question that when you look at [Carter], who is the fastest inside linebacker in the NFL -- maybe the fastest linebacker, period -- he is a big difference out there. Him and Sean Lee, I think, are going to be one of our strengths." Carter finished second on the Cowboys with five tackles in the regular-season opener, and is being used as a three-down linebacker in Rob Ryan's aggressive, blitz-heavy defense.
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 07:58:00 PM

Bruce Carter leads the battle for the Cowboys' "TED" linebacker spot with Dan Connor.

The faster Carter has his nose in front of bulkier Connor. The 2011 second-round pick figures to upgrade the Cowboys' defense in coverage, pairing with Sean Lee to create one of the more athletic inside linebacker duos in the league. Bradie James and Keith Brooking were liabilities at the position last year.
Source: ESPN Dallas
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 10:27:00 AM

According to Pro Football Weekly, Cowboys ILB Bruce Carter has the "inside edge" to start opposite Sean Lee.

Carter is battling Dan Connor for the "TED" linebacker position, and the Cowboys are intrigued by what they think he can do in pass coverage. After being limited to 10 games as a rookie, the hope is that a full offseason will get him acclimated to the defense. At worst, Carter will open the year as a nickel 'backer.
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 11:46:00 PM

After a strong showing in OTAs, ILB Bruce Carter is now "neck-and-neck" with Dan Connor for the starting job next to Sean Lee, according to Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones.

Now healthy after late 2010 ACL surgery, Carter is showing his "first-round talent, first-round skills," said Jones. "He's really making an impression on everybody." Added DC Rob Ryan, "I'm seeing a real player now ... He's the guy we thought he was when we drafted him."
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 10:42:00 AM

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett indicated that second-year ILB Bruce Carter still has a ways to go to become a reliable football player.

"He needs to play at a higher level both in terms of his understanding of scheme but also just how you play relentless," Garrett said. "That’s how you need to play football. He’s starting to understand that. You see flashes of that." Carter, still only 23, will open the season as a backup for Sean Lee and Dan Connor.
Thu, May 24, 2012 10:33:00 AM

ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer senses some concern about 2011 second-round pick Bruce Carter inside the Cowboys' organization.

Carter was the 40th pick in the 2011 draft, and initially projected to start at inside linebacker this winter. The Cowboys then signed Dan Connor in free agency, and said they would have drafted Utah State ILB Bobby Wagner with the 45th pick had they not traded it in the Mo Claiborne deal. Writes Archer, "There will be a lot of eyes on Carter during the (OTAs) and minicamp."
Source: ESPN Dallas
Mon, Apr 30, 2012 01:47:00 PM

Coach Jason Garrett is expecting big things out of ILB Bruce Carter in 2012.

Garrett noted that Carter came back from his ACL surgery "as well as can be expected" late last season. "We're excited about the progress of Bruce Carter," Garrett added. "He did some good things at the end of the year." Carter is the early favorite to start next to Sean Lee inside.
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 09:31:00 AM

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PosRoleName
QB1Tony Romo
2Kyle Orton
3Nick Stephens
4Dalton Williams
RB1DeMarco Murray
2Joseph Randle
3Lance Dunbar
4Phillip Tanner
5Kendial Lawrence
GLB1DeMarco Murray
2Joseph Randle
3RB1DeMarco Murray
2Joseph Randle
FB1Lawrence Vickers
WR11Dez Bryant
2Terrance Williams
3Cole Beasley
4Anthony Armstrong
5Eric Rogers
WR21Miles Austin
2Dwayne Harris
3Danny Coale
4Tim Benford
5Jared Green
WR31Dwayne Harris
TE1Jason Witten
2James Hanna
3Gavin Escobar
4Dante Rosario
5Andre Smith
K1Dan Bailey