Eagles Rookies Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith 'Feast' at Training Camp, Praised by Vets
PHILADELPHIA – Once upon a time, Fletcher Cox walked in the same shoes Philadelphia Eagles rookies Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are walking in right now.
Cox, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team from the 2010s, arrived in 2012 as the 12th overall pick and opened his 12th training camp as a member of the Eagles on Wednesday.
Carter came as the ninth pick, Smith as the 30th this past spring.
“I’ve been in (their) position, drafted in the first round," Cox said after about an hour of practice in sweltering heat and humidity. “You expect a lot, but the biggest thing is to get in and learn, learn the defense, learn how to practice as a pro.
"Learn the new environment and having to deal with a lot of media, but let go of the distractions.”
Carter took some second-team reps and looked comfortable and in shape. He and Marlon Tuipulotu alternated between lining up over left and right guard.
“Physically he looks the part,” said right tackle Lane Johnson. “Got to go against him a few times in the run game. He’s stout. I’m anxious to see him out there, hit him with Jordan Davis, Fletch, yeah man, let the big guys teach them and let the young guys feast.”
Smith was mostly on the second team as well, but got some first-team reps with Haason Reddick expected to be out with groin soreness until after the weekend. Smith enjoyed a few meals in his first camp practice as a pro, particularly with a pair of back-to-back reps.
Tight end Brady Russell was no match for him during red zone team drills as Smith threw him aside like a ragdoll and beelined for Marcus Mariota, who had to roll to his left to try to escape the hard-charging Smith to throw the ball away.
On the next rep, Smith put on more pressure from the edge, forcing Mariota to release the ball quicker than he would have liked and the result was an end zone interception from Christian Ellis.
“He’s quick, man, yeah,” said Johnson. “You have to be patient with him. He’s a great athlete, but what I like about Nolan in the little time I’ve known him is he works hard, and he’s always positive.
"He kind of has that BG (Brandon Graham) type attitude; never has a bad day. Obviously, I think he’ll learn a lot from Haason, from (Josh) Sweat. He’s been great so far.”
For one day, anyway, the two rookies looked like they belonged.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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