Jalen Carter is already a problem for opposing offenses, and the Eagles think there’s still another level to reach. The clearest path there, based on the first stretch of training camp, comes down to two things: showing that same impact snap after snap and keeping his emotions in check once the play is over.
Through the first 10 practices of camp, Carter has been a force in 11-on-11 work. He’s been in the backfield disrupting runs or getting pressure on Jalen Hurts, the kind of daily disruption that reminds everyone why he’s viewed as one of the best at his position.
The bigger question is what happens when the game gets messy. Carter plays with an edge that teammates and coaches appreciate, but that same temperament has also put him in tough spots. The Eagles know what can happen when that edge crosses the line, like last season when he spat on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
If Carter keeps stacking high-level performances and avoids those kinds of mistakes, Philadelphia’s defensive line could be one of the league’s best, and Carter could push himself back into the conversation as one of the NFL’s top defensive players.
One offseason adjustment already seems to be paying off: Carter said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio challenged him, in the form of a friendly wager, to hit a certain weight. Carter wouldn’t say what the target was, but he did say he dropped 10 pounds.
“It’s a difference where I can feel it,” Carter said. The lighter frame has helped him move better and stay on the field for more snaps without wearing down.
Getting there meant trimming his intake. Carter said he cut back on food and drinks, including raspberry Minute Maids.
“I like juice,” Carter said. “So I might drink some juice, but I had to slow down on the juice. ... The main thing is eating once a day, maybe twice, but making small portions and not big daddy meals.”
Carter is also looking forward to the Eagles’ two joint practices with the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, next week. He expects the intensity to rise, but says he’s not looking to spark anything.
“I come out and play my game and have fun and try to bring that little edge to where it gives a boost to the D-line or the whole defense or the whole team,” Carter said. “If I was to get into any altercations, I don’t try to start them. I just finish them.”
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Former Steelers RB Granted Prison Release Amid Heartbreaking Family Crisis
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Smallwood had been serving a sentence tied to COVID-related fraud and unlawful possession of an assault firearm, but a recent court ruling involving New Jerseys assault weapon ban gave his side grounds to withdraw the guilty plea. For Philadelphia fans who remember him from his time here, the latest development is a stark reminder that the most wrenching stories around an NFL player can unfold far from the field, and this one is still being shaped by the court process and a fathers urgent race against time. [Read more 🡒]