Darius Slay dubs Jalen Carter with ‘baby rhino’ nickname

Eagles rookie Jalen Carter earned another nickname in training camp. And we think this may be the most descriptive of them all.

Darius Slay, a cornerback and elder statesman for the team, annointed the defensive tackle who breaks blocking sleds as the new “baby rhino.”

“I know ya’ll heard the report about Jalen Carter, man, breaking the sled,” Slay said on his Big Play Slay show on YouTube. “I’m talking about buddy is strong. 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.”

“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.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Carter, the first-rounder out of Georgia, dominated joint practices against the Cleveland Browns last week. And then there were the squeals of delight from Eagles fans who watched as Carter very nearly notched a sack on his first-ever pro snap in the preseason opener against the Ravens.

Slay still raves about Jalen Carter’s smashing play against Ravens

Let’s go back to Slay and more about the Jalen Carter nickname. (Cornerbacks always are the best talkers). He also noted the moment Carter introduced himself to the Ravens offensive line and quarterback Josh Johnson.

Slay says: “I know you all saw his first play against the Baltimore Ravens. He only had one play, I think — quick off the line, quarterback hurry, almost got a sack, third-down stop — that’s what I need, that’s a DB’s dream. I’m not trying to cover long, so if they’re doing their job good, my job is going to be good. … I’m not lying, I’ve seen him get double teamed in practice and he getting them both off of him, like he’s strong.”

The Eagles finish the preseason against the Colts Thursday night in Philly. Then comes the regular season opener against the Patriots. Keep an eye on Jalen Carter. Maybe this Baby Rhino name sticks. Or maybe he evolves into a grown-man Rhino and becomes the disruptor most think he will be,