Jalen Carter and Jalen Hurts Share a Laugh as Eagles Camp Chemistry Builds
The Philadelphia Eagles posted a simple caption on X this week: “All smiles from the Jalens.” The photo said the rest. Jalen Carter and Jalen Hurts, gripping hands mid-laugh on the practice field at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, look like two players who know exactly what they’re building toward.
It’s a small moment. But it lands at a meaningful point in Philadelphia’s summer.
A Camp Carter Enters With Something to Prove
Carter reported to camp fresh off a record payday. According to ESPN, he’s now the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history in both guaranteed money ($106 million) and average annual value ($38 million). That kind of contract changes how a season starts. It puts a target on a player’s back before he’s played a snap that counts.
Carter didn’t shrink from it. Through the first three practices of camp, he’s been the Eagles’ most disruptive defender. NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that Carter batted down another pass at the line of scrimmage on Saturday, pushing his total to 13 over the past two seasons. Only Cameron Heyward and Andrew Van Ginkel have more among all NFL defensive linemen in that span, per the same report.
All smiles from the Jalens pic.twitter.com/D8Gtq44iBZ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 2, 2026
Bleeding Green Nation’s camp notes echo the trend, describing Carter as having started camp strong, disrupting the pass rush and holding up against the run through the opening sessions.
Hurts Finding His Footing in a New Offense
On the other side of the ball, Hurts is adjusting to a retooled offense. ESPN’s camp tracker notes the Eagles are working in new pieces around him, including receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who’s reportedly been building trust with the quarterback early in camp, according to ESPN.
The results through camp have been uneven, which is normal for early August. Bleeding Green Nation’s Day 3 recap described more misses than makes from Hurts and the offense in that particular session, though the quarterback still found DeVonta Smith on an extended play and threaded a tight-window throw to Britain Covey over the middle, per the outlet’s report.
Saturday’s session doubled as Military Day at camp, with service members and their families in attendance. Philadelphia’s own team site noted that the defense held its own in 7-on-7 work that day, forcing tight coverage and checkdowns from the offense.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Carter’s new contract | $106M guaranteed, $38M AAV — highest in NFL history for a DT |
| Carter’s batted passes (last 2 seasons) | 13 — third-most among all NFL defensive linemen |
| Camp session photographed | Day 3, “Military Day,” August 1, 2026 |
| Practice length that day | Just shy of two hours, non-padded |
Why the Photo Matters
None of this is dramatic on its own. But it’s worth noting what it represents. Carter enters this season as a max-money cornerstone the front office is betting on for years to come. Hurts is the face of the franchise trying to find rhythm in a new scheme. A relaxed, smiling handshake between the two of them, shared publicly by the team itself, is the kind of low-stakes image organizations lean on to signal one thing: the locker room is settled heading into the grind of camp.
The Eagles’ preseason opener is set for the week of August 13, giving Philadelphia roughly two more weeks of padded practices to sharpen both units before games start to count in any way.
