Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter made his regular season debut this weekend in Philadelphia’s 25-20 win over the New England Patriots.
The defensive tackle position is often a thankless one, but Carter was still able to make an impact both in the run and pass game on Sunday. Which Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni spoke about in his Monday press conference.
“They did a good job of getting the ball out,” Sirianni said. “Jalen, when we were able to get pressure, even when they got the ball out and there was pressure, I just kept seeing Jalen in those scenarios of where he was.”
Often times Carter was being blocked by multiple offensive lineman at once from his spot on the interior defensive line. But he was still able to make his presence felt, recording the first career sack of his professional career on quarterback Mac Jones.
“But I thought he did a really nice job. It was his first game, and we’ve got a lot more. So we were pleased with where he was in the offseason, we were pleased where he was throughout training camp, and we’re pleased with how he performed in that first game,” Sirianni said.
Along with his sack, Carter generated eight total pressures and seven quarterback hurries on Sunday, which both led the entire NFL in Week 1.
There’s no question that Carter flashed his talent to start of the season and showed why he was regarded as one of the top prospects of this year’s NFL Draft. The question now becomes how consistent can he be and does he continue to build on his solid debut performance.
“It’s a long season,” Sirianni said. “He has to keep doing it over and over and over again.”
The Eagles face a short week to start off the season, as the face the Minnesota Vikings at home this Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia Eagles place Nakobe Dean on IR, make corresponding roster moves
The Philadelphia Eagles have made various roster moves specifically at the linebacker position this week following the injury suffered by starter Nakobe Dean.
According to the Eagles, Dean has been placed on the team’s Injured Reserve after suffering a foot injury in Week 1 versus the New England Patriots. The team has also signed veteran linebacker Nicholas Morrow, promoting him from Philadelphia’s practice squad.
And taking Morrow’s spot on the practice squad is linebacker Rashaan Evans, a five year veteran whose spent time on the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons throughout his NFL career.
More must-reads: