Former Penn State football TE Kyle Carter earns another shot with Bills

Penn State football tight end Kyle Carter will get another shot to make it in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills once again.

Kyle Carter’s journey in the NFL has been far from smooth. The former Penn State football tight end didn’t enter the 2016 NFL Draft as a highly-touted prospect, but he was willing to grind his way onto an NFL roster no matter what. After four seasons with the Lions, Carter wrapped up his career with 84 catches, 963 yards, and four touchdowns.

With a slightly underwhelming stint during his final two seasons, Carter didn’t manage to get drafted in the NFL. Instead, he joined the Minnesota Vikings by signing as an undrafted free agent. The former Lions tight end knew a thing or two about being doubted by teams and scouts. After all, he entered Penn State a two-star tight end, according to Rivals.

So entering the NFL as an undrafted prospect wasn’t going to break Carter’s spirits. Carter would fight for a roster spot on the Vikings in 2016, but he managed to get released right after training camp, missing the final 53-man roster. Although Carter would join Minnesota’s practice squad, he was only on board for about a month before he was released once again.

Carter bounced around from free agency to the Vikings for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Finally, by his third year, Carter would find another opportunity elsewhere, but he couldn’t get himself on a final roster yet again. Up until this point, Carter has now been on four different teams, including the Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, and recently, the Buffalo Bills.

"“The team announced the signing of tight end Kyle Carter on Monday. The 6-4, 245-pound Penn State product will provide relief to a tight end group that has seen rookie Dawson Knox injure his hamstring on Saturday. Head coach Sean McDermott announced on Sunday that second-year tight end Jason Croom will also miss time with a hamstring injury. Free agent addition Tyler Kroft remains out with a foot injury suffered in the spring.”"

Carter is no stranger to the Buffalo Bills as they signed him to the practice squad last December. He wasn’t on the roster for spring sessions or even the beginning of training camp, but injuries forced the Bills to go out looking for depth at the position. At this point, Carter’s opportunities within the NFL are beginning to run thin, but the former Lions tight end continues to battle through adversity. Hopefully, he can beat the odds with another training camp opportunity.