Jalen Carter Breakout Performance Against Jaguars Comes at Much-Needed Time
Oct 11, 2026; Tottenham, ENG; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) fumbles during the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
It took a few weeks, but it seems as if Jalen Carter has arrived for the 2026 season.
The Eagles defense has been one of the best units in the NFL over the past couple of seasons, essentially being the team that stopped the mighty Kansas City Chiefs’ three-peat run. They held Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs offense to just six points through three quarters, then took their starters out after leading by five touchdowns.
That defense was stocked with playmakers at every position, many of whom are still on this current iteration of the Eagles, and it has been one of Philadelphia’s few positives this season. Players like Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean remain constant figures on this team, providing big moments now, just like they did back in that Super Bowl season.
One player, though, has been on a very up-and-down scale when it comes to providing big-time plays and moments for the Eagles following the Super Bowl win. But after a breakout stellar performance in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, defensive tackle Jalen Carter seems to be ready to roll for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
Carter logged one of, if not the best, games in terms of stats and overall dominance on the field Sunday morning, being a big reason as to why the Eagles were in the game
At halftime, Carter totaled four tackles, three tackles for loss, three pressures, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, just missing out on recovering both fumbles. Carter’s two strip sacks in the first half were the first time an Eagles defensive tackle has logged multiple strip sacks in one game since Fletcher Cox in 2015, and the first overall defensive tackle to do it in one game since October 2019.
He added two more tackles and a pass deflection in the second half, posting his best individual performance since the 2025 NFC Divisional matchup. Similarly, in that game, Carter’s presence was the more daunting factor, as the Los Angeles Rams in that game and the Jaguars in the most recent one felt they had no answer for Carter when he was getting after their players.
Jacksonville was forced to double Carter, doing so on 40% of snaps, but that didn’t stop him from still making a difference in the game. Carter being double-teamed also opened spots for fellow defenders on the defensive line to get after Trevor Lawrence, and forced him to be uncomfortable all game long.
When not doubling Carter, teams have instead moved to just blatantly tackling/holidng Carter and making it so he can’t disrupt plays. Oftentimes it leads to no calls, and offenses can work around Carter’s pass rush and have success on whatever play they’re running.
Holding calls not called against Carter have been a topic of conversation for several seasons now, essentially becoming a joke whenever it’s brought up. While holding could be called on every single play in the NFL, seeing the level at which it happens to Carter is comical.
Called or not called, Carter, at his peak level of play, is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and this past week’s game for the Eagles only further proves that theory. Carter already has three sacks and five tackles for loss in five weeks, matching his total from all 11 games he played last season. His three forced fumbles this season are already a career high for the fourth-year player out of Georgia.
This past offseason, Carter signed a four-year, $152 million contract extension, worth up to $160 million with incentives, extending his time in Philadelphia for the remainder of his immediate prime and making him one of the focal points of the Eagles’ defense.
Many felt as though signing Carter to that contract, while expected, was a bit of a risk due to the money that the Eagles are putting into their team at the moment, and the fact that Carter’s play seems to be very up-and-down week-after-week. That deal, as well as Jordan Davis‘ new contract, handcuffs the Eagles to very little defensive flexibility moving forward, likely meaning the end of fellow defensive lineman Moro Ojomo this offseason and potentially Nolan Smith the following.
However, contracts are a later issue, and re-signing Carter at the price they did is honestly a steal for a player of his caliber. As for the up-and-down play, while that is true, games like this past weekend’s prove Carter has the talent to change outcomes of games. He has a long way to go to further earn his brand-new contract; Week 5’s performance was a great sign that Carter’s game-breaking abilities may be continuing.
With the Eagles currently floundering and the panic meter at an all-time high, the best thing for this team is for Carter and co. on defense to continue their hot streak of great play. Until the offense gets figured out, the defense is really all the Eagles have that they can rely on.
Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
