Jalen Carter Called His Season "Trash." Yeah, But He's Said It Before.

Jalen Carter was asked Wednesday to sum up his season. He needed one word.

"Y'all ask me this every year and I say trash," he said. "I think you asked for this last year and the year before and I gave you the same answer: Trash."

On the defense's sack total, he added: "it's not to downgrade anybody, it's me also." That's self-criticism, not a shot at teammates, which makes it a rare thing in a 2-5 locker room. (Inquirer)

Monday's 38-21 loss to Dallas backs him up. Carter finished with two assisted tackles, no solo tackles and, per the Inquirer's Jeff McLane, zero pressures. This is the highest-paid defensive tackle in football: a four-year, $152 million extension (up to $160 million) with $106 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter via NFL.com. It runs through 2031.

Then Thursday, the Bears made it official: Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick go to Chicago for 2027 and 2028 first-rounders and a 2027 fourth. Schefter noted Simmons is the first defensive tackle in the common draft era, since 1967, traded for multiple first-round picks. Read that again. Two firsts, for a tackle, the day after Philly's tackle called himself trash. The universe has no sense of discretion.

Philly sports radio did what Philly sports radio does. Chase Senior of Chat Sports asked, "If Howie Roseman could trade Jalen Carter for two 1's right now, would you do the deal, Eagles fans?" WIP's Jack Fritz posted, "The Eagles should see what they can get in a trade for Jalen Carter." 97.5's Andrew Salciunas wrote, "I never wanted to trade Jalen Carter, still don't, but now we have a better idea of what the Eagles could have received."

That's chatter, not reporting. The reporting: in March, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said the Eagles had received trade calls on Carter. Schefter then said on the Pat McAfee Show that the Eagles "never have shopped him," and the Inquirer notes Roseman denied the reports. We haven't seen a credible report that the Eagles are shopping him now. The trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET, per NFL.com.

Yeah, but he's said it before. In September 2024: "If I'm being real about myself, trash." NJ.com's story from that week noted the word was "nothing new for Carter," who said, "That's how I talk about myself." (NJ.com)

He's also hurt. "Probably not going to be 100 pct. this year," he said of his wrist.

Then the numbers. Through seven games each, Carter has 18 tackles, 3 sacks and 16 pressures, with a PFF grade of 57.0. Simmons has 38 tackles, 4 sacks and 24 pressures, with a 76.7. Their pass-rush grades: 56.2 vs. 80.5. Same job, different quality. (NFL.com game logs; PFF: Carter, Simmons)

In fairness, PFF's own label for a 57.0 is "average," not trash. Which is its own kind of insult at $38 million a year. Carter also leads every interior lineman in forced fumbles (three) and ranks second in snaps (419), a heavy workload for a guy playing through a bad wrist. Simmons, for the record, was a first-team All-Pro last season.

The defense around Carter is 31st in sacks per game (1.1), and it entered Monday last in quick pressure rate. That's five straight losses. Trading Carter wouldn't fix any of it.

"Trash" is harsh on the numbers and fair on the timing. The Bears just spent two firsts on a pass rush. The Eagles already own one, signed through 2031, and it's telling you exactly what it thinks of itself.