The Philadelphia Eagles, under general manager Howie Roseman, have built what many consider one of the NFL’s top rosters. This construction involves taking risks on talented players who may have some off-field concerns.
While this approach can foster a strong locker room dynamic, it also runs the risk of players reminding management why they were available in the first place. This has become apparent with one of the Eagles’ recent draft selections.
Jalen Carter, a highly regarded defensive tackle from Georgia, was a steal when he was picked ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was celebrated for his impressive college career, which included two national championships.
However, Carter’s transition to the NFL hasn’t been seamless; he has only started two of his 18 games so far. In the Week 2 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, he missed the opportunity to start due to tardiness for a team-related event earlier in the week.
According to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles opted not to start or play Carter during the first defensive series against the Falcons. The specific event he was late to has not been disclosed.
Despite not starting, Carter still participated in 46 of the 61 defensive snaps, the most among Philadelphia’s defensive tackles, although he ended the game with only one assisted tackle.