Jalen Carter just exploded. After a slow start to the season, the Eagles’ defensive tackle finally had his first massive game of 2026 in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, proving exactly why Philly dropped a record-breaking contract on him this offseason. Forget the early season struggles; this guy showed up and showed out in a big way.
Jalen Carter Unleashed: Wrist Fracture Be Damned
Carter’s performance across the pond was nothing short of dominant. He racked up five tackles, blasted through for two sacks, broke up a pass, and forced two fumbles. This isn’t just a good game; it’s a statement. Remember, he’d been fighting through a hairline fracture in his wrist that kept him from being fully effective in earlier games. But in London? That wrist was clearly an afterthought. It was his first game with two forced fumbles since way back on September 25, 2023, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his first multi-sack game since October 20, 2024. Talk about hitting your stride. The Eagles ultimately fell to the Jaguars 19-17, but you can’t pin that on Carter. He was everywhere. If either of those fumbles had been recovered, the outcome of that game could’ve been totally different.
The Franchise Cornerstone Is Heating Up
This is the Jalen Carter everyone expected when the Eagles drafted him ninth overall in the 2023 NFL draft. He’s already earned two Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the second-team All-Pro in 2024, and he finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting his first year, right behind Will Anderson Jr. Now, he’s hunting for that first piece of hardware. This offseason, the Eagles locked him down with a monster four-year, $152 million extension, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history. It’s clear they see him as the centerpiece of their defense and pass rush, and given his history at Georgia , leading them to back-to-back national championships with insane stats like 83 total tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss , it’s easy to see why. He’s now sitting at nine tackles and three sacks for the season, already tying his sack total from last year. Plus, he’s got a career-high three fumbles this season.
Carter’s finally hitting his stride. He’s got that record-setting contract and the league is on notice. If he keeps this level of play going, we’re looking at a defensive force that few teams are going to be able to handle. You gotta wonder what he’ll do next if this is him *just* getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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