NFL players may be professional athletes, but they still have rules to follow. In addition to league rules and standards, players must also abide by the rules of their head coach and team. Apparently, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is guilty of not following the latter.
Eagles fans may have noticed that Carter was not present this past Monday in the first series of the team’s Monday Night Football contest against the Atlanta Falcons. It turns out that his absence was the result of being disciplined for being late to a meeting.
Carter explained to the media on Friday that he was late for the meeting because he missed his alarm and overslept.
Jalen Carter said he was benched for the first series because he was late to a meeting
The lesson he learned? pic.twitter.com/8SxYBLc7Eb
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) September 20, 2024
When asked what lesson he learned from the experience, Carter said, “Don’t be late,” per 94WIP.com Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks. He also shared his reaction when the coaching staff doled out his punishment.
“I was shocked but I knew I was going to have some consequences,” Carter said. “I knew I was going to have some consequences. Gotta stand up and man up to it.”
The defensive tackle said the loss of playing time didn’t affect his performance on the field. During the game against the Falcons, Carter played 46 snaps and came away with one assisted tackle. So far this year, he has only four combined tackles and one quarterback hit for the 1-1 Eagles.
Carter has admitted that his play has not been stellar so far and he has a lot to work on. Philadelphia is counting on Carter to step up this year, especially since longtime veteran Fletcher Cox retired after last season.
