For a player widely regarded as one of the NFL’s rising stars under the age of 25, things haven’t exactly started off on the right foot for Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
He played 51 snaps but failed to impact the Eagles’ Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. Last week, Carter was benched for the Eagles’ first defensive series against the Atlanta Falcons for arriving late to a team meeting. He played the game, but he was little difference-maker for a defense that was regularly gashed in the running game and buckled whenever it had a chance to finish the game late in the game.
Speaking to reporters outside his locker Friday, Carter confirmed he was disciplined last week, saying the alarm on his phone never went off. He was also asked how he played in the Eagles’ first two games, and he gave a direct and honest answer:
Asked about his play so far this season, Jalen Carter called it “sucks.” He added that he needs to play better. https://t.co/s5rX6tohlA
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) September 20, 2024
The Eagles were confident they could keep Carter in the program when they traded up one spot with the Chicago Bears to select him with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It was the first time the former Georgia Bulldogs star had ever been late to a team meeting, but he hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt at this point in his professional career.
Jalen Carter’s Recent Troubles
According to ESPNTeams were put off by Carter’s March 1 arrest, which stemmed from an investigation into a fatal car crash on Jan. 15. His reputation as a player and teammate also came into question, with Georgia coaches refusing to fight for Carter during the predraft process, and a 2020 incident where he punched then-Georgia linebacker Quay Walker in the face during a fall practice.
In March, Carter pleaded not guilty Carter was charged with misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and racing. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service. The vehicle Carter was allegedly racing against crashed, killing Georgia teammate Devin Willock and recruiting aide Chandler LeCroy.
Victoria Bowles, crash survivor recently installed his claims against the school’s athletic department, but his negligence lawsuit against Carter and the estate of Chandler LeCroy remains open, according to ESPN.
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