Bruce

Carter

Carter tallied five special teams tackles and played 78 defensive snaps for Atlanta last year. A failed former second-round pick of the Cowboys, Carter has spent time with four NFL teams. He turns 31 later this month.

According to the Wilmington News Journal, Connor had a one-year offer from the Eagles, but it wasn’t close to what the Cowboys were offering. Although the organization was impressed with Bruce Carter in his return from ACL surgery late last season, the signing of strong run defender Connor suggests they’re not ready to hand Carter a starting job. The odds favor Connor starting alongside former Penn State teammate Sean Lee at inside linebacker. Carter will likely enter games in nickel situations, replacing Connor.

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.”

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.

The second-round pick will make his NFL debut against the Eagles on Sunday. He’s expected to start out on special teams before eventually taking on a reserve role in the Cowboys’ linebacker corps. He’s off the IDP radar.

Free agents Bradie James and Keith Brooking are not expected back. Carter could team with Sean Lee to give Dallas one of the most athletic 3-4 inside linebacker duos in football. Carter missed most of his rookie year with a knee injury he suffered as a college senior, but he’s considered to have a Navorro Bowman kind of upside. He’ll be an interesting IDP in 2012.

The coaches opted for Keith Brooking over Carter when Sean Lee went down with a wrist injury last week, and the Eagles exploited the mismatch with Brent Celek and Jason Avant over the middle. It may take a couple of weeks, but Carter could begin rotating snaps with Bradie James next to Lee.

“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.

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.”

The expectation is that Connor will be the early-down run stuffer, replaced by Bruce Carter in Dallas’ nickel packages. If so, it will be a situation to avoid in IDP leagues. Look for Lee to lead the Cowboys in tackles this season.