Eagles Training Camp Notebook: How Jalen Carter Lost 10 Pounds this Summer

The Eagles defensive tackle talked about losing weight while reaction to Lane Johnson's retirement announcement trickles in.

Jalen Carter takes the field for practice during Eagles training camp in August, 2026. | Ed Kracz

PHILADELPHIA – Jalen Carter stood smiling after going through a nearly two-hour practice in the South Philly heat and humidity on Tuesday. The Eagles defensive tackle was asked a few times about his weight, which he said, his down 10 pounds from last year.

As he answered questions, he patted his stomach, saying, “I like juice. I might drink some juice, but I had to slow down. Mostly it’s all water and juice in here. I just slowed down. Mostly being just once a day, twice. But small portions, not Big Daddy meals.”

Having a weight clause in his recently signed contract extension has helped. It a clause that will allow him to make another $250,000 each year by staying at or below his mandated weight, with Spotrac data indicating Carter will have five weigh-ins a year with a $50,000 bonus each time he passes them.

It’s not so much about the money, though. It’s more about defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

“Me and Vic had a little thing going where he wanted me to come in at a certain amount of weight, and I made that weight,” said Carter. We had a little bet. It was all fun and games. All principles and stuff like that. It was just coming in with a mindset.

“That also shows that the contract wasn’t my biggest focus. My biggest focus was putting a smile on Coach Vic’s face coming in at my weight. He was happy. We dapped up. We hugged. We’re doing good. We’re just working every day.”

LANE REACTION

A handful of days after Lane Johnson announced that this would “probably” be his final season, reaction inside the building is trickling in.

Landon Dickerson: “I've been very fortunate to play a lot of years with Lane, and I hate to see him go. I mean, it's honestly been a pleasure to play with a guy like that. You learn a ton on and off the field from somebody that's been in this game and just at the level he's played and super excited to watch him go in the Eagles Hall of Fame and then in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Jalen Hurts: “Lane is a special player. He’s had a very special career and to get to know him and for him to immerse himself into my career and me developing ever since I walked into Philly, working out together, the time we spent together, I take pride in those things. I want to make sure it’s a special year for him. I know it takes great courage to say this is the last dance going into it, so I’m hoping he gets everything he desires out of this year.”

Nick Sirianni: “We want to support Lane in that, and he's a phenomenal football player. One of the best guys I've ever been around and, in my opinion, the best offensive lineman in the NFL. So glad he's here and just thinking about every day. I can't say enough good things about Lane, but you don't think about those things until - I don't think about those things until later on and just happy he's here and out at practice and contributing to our football team.”

Jurgens' Back Test; Kendall Taking Charge

Drew Kendall (No. 66) and Cam Jurgens (No. 51) chat before a training camp practice. | John McMullen/Eagles On SI

BACK TEST

Cam Jurgens’ surgically repaired back from last offseason passed a major test when he went one-on-one with the powerful Jordan Davis earlier this week and won both reps. That’s a good sign.

TAKING CONTROL

Drew Kendall looks like the top backup on the interior of the offensive line. A solid center at Boston College for four years, the second-year fourth-round pick is getting the hang of playing guard and looks like he will be the No. 1 backup option at either guard or center should disaster strike one of the starters.

SAY WHAT?

Fangio isn’t known to sugarcoat anything, so it was interesting to hear his answer when asked about what he has seen from Riq Woolen since the pads have come on.

“At times he can get a little lazy or sloppy with his technique and have a bad down or two, but he's still showing everything that I think he can do,” said the DC. “He's just got to get in such great shape and calloused to football that those don't happen.”