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Ever wonder what it takes for a rookie to shine bright when the odds—and the scoreboard—are stacked against him? Meet Barrett Carter, the Cincinnati Bengals’ fourth-round pick who’s been racking up tackles like he’s on a personal mission, even as his team battles through a rough patch. The Bengals, sitting at a modest 4-8, find themselves wrestling with the harsh reality that every game is suddenly a must-win. Yet, with Joe Burrow back in the saddle and Carter emerging as a formidable force on defense, there’s a flicker of hope—and perhaps a hint of something special brewing under that orange-and-black helmet. So, can this rookie’s breakout be the spark that gets Cincinnati back on track, or is it just a bright spot in an otherwise tough stretch? Let’s dive in.

A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. — (Photo by Justin Aller /Getty Images)

Every game from here on out is a must-win game for the Cincinnati Bengals, who are sitting at 4-8 but aren’t dead in the AFC North just yet, especially after rallying around quarterback Joe Burrow’s return to pick up a huge win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving. Cincy will have its hands full, but having Burrow back means the Bengals will be a threat to win against anybody.

The Bengals fought hard last week in a close loss to the New England Patriots, but ultimately fell short to drop a fourth game in a row. Despite the disappointing loss, one rookie received a nice honor for his performance against the Pats.

The Bengals announced on X that rookie fourth-round pick Barrett Carter‘s performance last week earned him Pepsi Zero Sugar’s Rookie of the Week honors. In the loss, Carter racked up an impressive 16 tackles, which was the fourth time in the last six games he was in double digits.

Congrats to Barrett Carter, @pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week.

: https://t.co/dOC8MjKSuA pic.twitter.com/Ljcz8PnWbi

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 27, 2025

Carter has stepped up nicely since the Bengals traded star linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys at the trade deadline, and even though the Bengals have arguably the league’s worst defense, they appear to have a solid long-term building block in Carter.

This defense will have its hands full with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the rest of the Ravens’ explosive offense on Thanksgiving, but perhaps the defense can build upon its solid performance last week. It was a step in the right direction, and with Burrow back, there’s a path for this team to go on a big run down the stretch.

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