Why Eagles Rookie Jalen Carter Provides Instant Impact
BALTIMORE - Two snaps. That was it, the grand total of action Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Carter saw against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night.
If that’s all the No. 9 overall pick in the draft plays when the curtain goes up on the regular season against the New England Patriots on Sept. 10, an investigation will need to be launched.
Carter needs to be on the field, and he will be. He better be. His talents are vast, his tool bag deep to keep him standing on the sidelines for long stretches.
“Obviously, it’s early,” said head coach Nick Sirianni. “He is working hard every day, and he’s had some really nice plays. He’s very talented, and he’s just got to keep working. He still has yet to make a play in the NFL, so he’s just got to put his head down and work.
“But he’s put some nice practices back-to-back – back-to-back-to-back, actually, so he's just got put his head down and keep working.”
Preseason stats don’t count, obviously, but Carter passed the eye test in his first NFL action, even if it was only two snaps.
He entered the game with the Ravens facing a third-and-10 midway through the first quarter and lined up over his old teammate from the University of Georgia, right guard Ben Cleveland.
Cleveland never had a chance as Carter burst right by him and was in the lap of Josh Johnson before he even had a chance to survey the field.
“I watched a little film on him,” said Carter, who was a freshman when he played with Cleveland. “It was my first play, so I just went out there to feel the vibe. I knew it was a pass, and we were going to rush front. We were in a certain front where we have two 3s. I’m thinking pass off the rip. I got off the ball. I felt his presence, heavy on my left shoulder, so I made an inside move.
“It’s natural. I’ve been playing football my whole life. I just go out there and try to do my best, and do what I usually do.”
As Carter was dragging down Johnson, the quarterback somehow managed to throw the ball away. By then, the damage was done and the Ravens had to punt.
“I was just making sure I had him, at least, wrapped him up because he did try to run off,” said Carter. “I got his legs, but I looked up and I’d seen the ball was gone, and I said, ‘Dang.’”
Carter’s second play was a 37-yard run by Justice Hill. Carter was engaged in a block and then went to pursue, but Hill cut back across the field for his big gain. Not entirely Carter’s fault, but a learning rep nonetheless.
Asked what his takeaways were from his tiny body of work, Carter thought for a few seconds before answering.
“I don’t know,” he finally declared. “I didn’t really have a takeaway. It was fun to have my first two snaps in the NFL, and one of them getting a hit on the QB.”
He did, however, credit his teammates.
"I’m just enjoying the moment, having fun with the team," he said. "These guys made me feel very comfortable as soon as I got in here. Really, if the guys didn’t make me feel as comfortable as I am now, I probably would’ve never made that play."
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's Eagles Today.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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