There’s something new to love about Eagles DT Jalen Carter nearly every time he takes a defensive rep. Like a goodnight kiss from your high school sweetheart, followed by a surprise gut punch from your college roommate, Carter knows how to make an entrance.
Eagles Training Camp notes: Jalen Carter stole the show this Summer
Take those back-to-back plays in the preseason opener against Baltimore. First, Carter got his meaty beef hook up and deflected Josh Johnson‘s pass to force third down, then he tossed his body into the throwing lane and forced Johnson to double-clutch his throw on the next play. The latter forced an errant pass that was nearly picked off by rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
According to ESPN’s Tim McManus, Carter has been in the backfield all the time at Eagles’ practices in South Philly. So, it wouldn’t be a hot take to say that Carter is primed for a breakout sophomore campaign. To hear new defensive line coach Clint Hurtt tell it, the former No. 9 overall pick is one of the smartest players in the meeting room.
“He’s an intelligent football player, but in the meeting room he asks all the right questions,” Hurtt told reporters on August 20. “You can hold him accountable when he doesn’t do something right, and he takes criticism and moves forward.”
Hurtt revealed that Carter will be seeing snaps off the edge and inside the trenches. He’s just too talented to pigeon-hole into one position. Why is the 6-foot-3, 314-pounder so dangerous?
“His initial quickness off the ball. He can run. He can bend the edges,” Hurtt said. “Like I said, he has a lot of tools in his body so he doesn’t always have to line up as a 3 [technique]. He can line up outside edge or tackle and still win there as well. Whether it’s winning on outside edge rush or powering a tackle back so he has all those skills and traits.”
Britain Covey Discuss New Kickoff Rule, Emerging Slot Receiver
There’s been much made about the NFL’s new kickoff rule. It may look weird to football purists, but the results are proving it was the right thing to do. The NFL recently released statistics showing that 80% of all preseason kickoffs were returned. No touch-back? No problem.
“I think with this kickoff rule there’s going to be a lot of trial and error for the first three or four weeks of the season for every team,” Eagles receiver Britain Covey said. “As of now you’re going to want bigger body types, most likely. I mean, you’re returning it every play, it almost turns into inside zone … so I think you’re going to see mostly running backs throughout the league or bigger receivers.”
Covey was the Eagles’ top return man in 2023, but he hasn’t seen much time back there at training camp. He expects to mix in a “little bit” on kickoffs this year, but it’s not his leading role. Covey will be counted on more in the slot as a receiver. If he does get a crack at taking one back, look for it to come on a punt return when the Eagles are looking to capitalize on his vision.
“You can’t dance around. It’s got to be one cut, get vertical and trust,” Covey said. “And that’s tough to do, and so it can turn into something like a punt return.”
Breakout Season Predicted for Eagles’ LB Nakobe Dean
Safety Reed Blankenship is locked into a starting safety spot alongside C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Things could change, especially once Sydney Brown‘s rehab is complete, but the organization really likes the physicality that Blankenship brings to the position.
His fellow Eagles also love the attitude and personality he brings to the huddle. When he was asked to predict a big season for one player on the roster, Blankenship didn’t flinch or stutter. One name left his lips.
“I’d say Nakobe Dean. He has come to work every day. He came to work with a chip on his shoulder and it shows,” Blankenship said. “Here in practice, even in games, he’s getting everybody lined up. He’s making plays. He’s making the plays a really good linebacker should make, that a great linebacker should make. And it’s really good to see because I knew he had it. And now just seeing it it’s like okay, now it answers a lot of questions, so I’m very excited for him.”
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
