Jalen

Carter

Safety Sydney Brown was also removed from the injury report. Both news items are big wins for an Eagles secondary that has been ravaged by injuries this year. Slay missed Week 6 with the knee issue but was a full participant in practice today, so he should be able to play without any limitations. Jalen Carter, who also missed last week, is back in action as well.

Carter reportedly suffered a sprained ankle in practice earlier this week, putting his Week 6 status in jeopardy. The rookie first round pick has already established himself as a key contributor on the Eagles’ defense, leading the team in pressures (23), hurries (17) , and sacks (3.5). We may not know more on Carter’s status until closer to game time when the team releases its Week 6 inactives. Head coach Nick Sirianni said he does not expect Slay’s injury to be a long-term concern.

Willock’s father is reportedly seeking $40 million for the death of his son, alleging wrongful death, negligent hiring, and negligence according to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah. Willock was killed in a drunk driving accident last January and was the passenger in a car that was racing a vehicle driven by Carter. Carter pleaded no contest to the charges of racing and reckless driving and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation in addition to 80 hours of community service. The lawsuit also mentions Carter’s alleged “pattern of excessive speeding” prior to the accident as something Sarchione Auto Group failed to take into consideration when they provided him with his vehicle as part of an NIL deal.

Carter is the first of the 2023 first-rounders to sign his rookie contract. The deal is worth $21.8 million and is fully guaranteed. As is the case with all contracts for first-round rookies, it includes a fifth-year option for the team. The Eagles moved up one spot with Chicago to nab the first of many former Goegria players they would go on to acquire during the draft. A blue-chip prospect for the interior of their defensive line, Carter will be a difference-maker for Philly’s defense as a rookie.

The Eagles flipped a 2024 fourth-rounder for the right to move up one spot. With balanced power and a mature approach to reading his responsibilities, Carter (6’3/314) led 2022 UGA in forced fumbles despite missing two games with a knee injury. While his hands demonstrate violence, Carter’s most notable trait may be his movement ability as he can either burst or change direction on a dime. When it comes to body leverage, he imposes his will on offensive linemen whether it’s by shooting the gap or reestablishing the line of scrimmage. His play awareness is phenomenal, regularly shutting down run plays or pushing the pocket into the quarterback’s lap. Carter may sound like a close-to-perfect prospect, but huge question marks remain regarding his maturity and off-the-field issues. He chose not to undergo any athletic testing throughout the pre-draft process. Although he isn’t the type to be a team distraction and prima donna, Carter has drawn the ire of coaches for immaturity and lack of professionalism, as well as being associated with the death of a college teammate in an auto accident. There is also slight concern with his injury history that caused him to miss games this past season. However, he has shown the ability to fill many roles on successful teams at multiple levels and has the potential to become one of the best at his position, even at the next level.

It’s a curious development after The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reported in March that Carter -- who was issued an arrest warrant for reckless driving -- was not on the Raiders’ draft radar. He was, per Tafur, “crossed off by the team.” Perhaps the Raiders have come around on the dominant lineman improving a rush defense that ranked among the NFL’s worst in 2022. At Georgia, Carter destroyed opposing rushing attacks and recorded six sacks over his final two seasons. In 2022, Pro Football Focus graded Carter as the nation’s third best run stopping defensive lineman and the 13th best pass rushing lineman. Vegas has the seventh pick in the first round of the upcoming draft.

Tatur notes that the comparison between Carter and former Raiders wideout Henry Ruggs is “too close to home for the Raiders and their fans in the Las Vegas community.” Carter’s reckless driving case is not quite in the same ballpark as what happened with Ruggs, but this is a concrete sign that teams are wary of Carter’s character and that he could potentially be in for a draft day fall.

The charges, both misdemeanors in the state of Georgia, stem from a drag racing incident in January. According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Carter was racing with Georgia recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock were killed in a single-car accident that night. Carter was at the scene of the incident, left before police arrived, and later returned. Subsequent reports have alleged that he gave differing accounts of the events to the police. Carter was at the NFL scouting combine the morning of the warrant being issued. He left the combine and arrangements have been made for him to be turned in to the police. Carter later released a statement saying he expects to be “fully exonerated” once the facts of the case are known.

Carter, a locked-in top-5 pick, announced he’s going pro hours after the Bulldogs thrashed TCU in the National Championship game. Carter was a dominant force throughout his time at Georgia, destroying opposing rushing attacks and recording six sacks over his final two seasons. In 2022, Pro Football Focus graded Carter as the nation’s third best run stopping defensive lineman and the 13th best pass rushing lineman. He would be a no-brainer pick for many of the teams picking early in the 2023 draft.