DeWayne Carter entered the 2026 season with a chip on his shoulder.
The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle was once viewed as a potential roster-bubble player. Three weeks into the season, however, Carter has transformed himself into one of the most productive run defenders in the NFL.
Carter isn’t shy about his confidence, either.
“I don’t care about (people saying) I could be a bubble guy,” Carter said. “I’m playing football again and I know who I am. I know the work I put in. I know what my process is, and I know that I’m one of the best players in the league.”
Carter is dominating against the run
That confidence is starting to look justified.
Through three games, Carter leads the NFL in ESPN’s run-stop win rate at 56 percent. He also has 22 run stops, the most among defensive tackles during that span.
His emergence has played a major role in Buffalo’s improved run defense. The Bills haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher through the first three games, a notable development after stopping the run was a weakness for the team last season. They’ve also played some good running backs like Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Chargers RB Omarion Hampton and Texans RB Damon Montgomery.
“Our goal is to be the best at stopping the run,” Carter said. “Because last year it wasn’t a strong suit for us.”
Carter has also graded well according to Pro Football Focus. Among defensive tackles with at least 40 run snaps, he ranks 11th with a 69.1 run-defense grade.
For a player who built his reputation as a versatile defensive lineman coming out of Duke, the production represents a significant step forward.
DeWayne Carter Is More Than a Run Stopper
Carter’s impact hasn’t been limited to stopping ball carriers.
One of his biggest plays this season came during Buffalo’s Week 3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Carter won a one-on-one pass-rushing matchup against Justin Herbert, forcing the quarterback to step up in the pocket and directly into a sack by Greg Rousseau.
That play highlighted the versatility Carter believes he brings to Buffalo’s defensive front.
“I pride myself on being that,” Carter said. “Coming out, I was like an every-down player who can play every down, any position up and down the line, doesn’t matter.”
That versatility has become particularly valuable for a Bills defense that currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 10 sacks.
Rousseau has been at the center of Buffalo’s pass rush, leading the NFL with six sacks and earning September’s NFL Defensive Player of the Month award. But Carter’s ability to create pressure from the interior can make life easier for the team’s edge rushers.
Bills Getting Exactly What They Needed
Bills coach Joe Brady said Carter’s emergence hasn’t surprised him.
Brady acknowledged that it took Carter time to become comfortable, particularly after Ed Oliver went down and Carter was forced into a larger role.
“A lot is just the confidence in being able to put together plays and then put together some more plays,” Brady said. “When Ed went down and him having to take on such a huge role, and embracing and rolling with it.”
That confidence appears to be translating onto the field.
Carter entered the season needing to prove he belonged. Now, he’s helping lead a Buffalo defensive line that has improved against the run while continuing to generate pressure.
For the Bills, Carter’s emergence could be one of the most important developments of their 3-0 start.
