‘Baby rhino’ Jalen Carter is going to be ‘very, very dominant,’ says Eagles CB Darius Slay

Anyone who has been paying attention to Eagles training camp — or has watched either of their preseason games — shouldn’t be surprised by what Jalen Carter’s teammates have to say about him. I mean, any time you’re destroying All-Pro opponents so badly they’re complaining to the media, like the rookie did during joint practices with the Browns, you’re doing something right.

Carter has been flashing in the games as well, backing up a solid debut with another strong showing, albeit in limited action, against Cleveland. But it’s been at practice, especially in joint practices that return this week against Indianapolis, where Carter has really stood out.

And that play has got everyone talking, including his teammates.

“I know ya’ll heard the report about Jalen Carter, man, breaking the sled. I’m talking about buddy is strong,” cornerback Darius Slay said on his “Big Play Slay” show on YouTube. “I’m not going to compare him to who I want to compare him to, but I’ve been around a lot of great [defensive] tackles. I’ve been around [Ndamukong] Suh, Haloti Ngata, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave. I’ve been around a great group of guys who play defensive tackle, man, and I’m trying to tell you, Jalen Carter, this kid is just very, very dominant, man. He’s very physical, quicker than what you think, and stronger than how he looks.”

Over the weekend, offensive lineman Lane Johnson, who has an up-close view of just how strong Carter is, compared the rookie to “a bigger Geno Atkins,” in addition to comparing him to Hargrave as well. But Slay took it a step further.

“He looks like a baby rhino,” Slay said. “You ever seen a baby rhino and you just [think] he’s crazy, I’m talking about he’s pushing folks back. You can ask Lane Johnson. Lane Johnson said it himself, one of the best tackles in the game, said this guy is ready to play right now and is ready to take control of a game right now. He’s a game-changer.”