Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter is playing like he's been in the NFL for a decade already.  

In nine games, the Eagles' rookie has logged 16 total tackles, five sacks and 29 total pressures. 

He ranks fifth among defensive tackles in sacks, per Pro Football Focus. But here's the kicker, he's played just 251 total snaps. 

We'll use Aaron Donald as an example since he's been compared to the 11-year veteran already this season. 

Donald has 36 total tackles, six sacks and 40 total pressures on the season so far. He's played 480 snaps. That's 229 more snaps than Carter has played, which is why his midseason performance has been so surprising. 

Unfortunately, Carter hasn't been playing every snap because he's been beaten up with injuries. 

His most recent injury was a back injury that he sustained in Week 8 in the Eagles' win over the Washington Commanders. Prior to that, he suffered an ankle sprain in practice and missed Week 6's loss to the New York Jets. 

That was a fear of head coach Nick Sirianni's and a big reason as why he didn't play Carter a lot at the start of the season. "It's a long season," Sirianni repeatedly said when questioned about Carter's snap count a few weeks ago. 

Despite battling through injuries, there's no doubt when he's out there that he's a monster. 

He struggled a bit in Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, he did come up huge with a crucial half-sack alongside Brandon Graham on Dak Prescott when the Eagles needed a stop with the game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter. 

The 8-1 Eagles do not play in Week 10 and instead, enter their bye week. And then when they come back, they don't play until Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. That should be enough time for Carter to get back to feeling close to 100 percent.

It will be exciting to see what the Georgia product can do in the second half of the season as he continues to make his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers ride historic shooting performance to Game 7 blowout of Knicks
Timberwolves mount incredible second-half comeback to stun Nuggets in Game 7
Xander Schauffele proves doubters wrong with historic win at 2024 PGA Championship
Four things we learned from Joey Logano's All-Star Race win at North Wilkesboro
Phil Foden lifts Manchester City to fourth consecutive English Premier League title
Watch: Aaron Judge blasts 13th home run in Yankees' seventh straight win
Canucks won't have linchpin forward for Game 7 vs. Oilers
Jags reportedly mulling extension for Trevor Lawrence, but is that the right choice?
Gordon Hayward calls role with Thunder 'frustrating'
Mets reliever Edwin Diaz showing short shelf life of closers
Three offseason moves the 49ers must make
Watch: NASCAR drivers exchange punches after crash in All-Star Race
Knicks star offers passionate defense of HC Tom Thibodeau after Game 7 loss
Knicks' Jalen Brunson suffers serious injury in Game 7 vs. Pacers
Dodgers add recently acquired left-hander to active roster
Report: 2023 No. 7 pick expected to terminate KHL contract, join Flyers
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness