KANSAS CITY — Jalen Carter was one of the last players to make his way to the visiting locker room after the Eagles’ 20-17 win over the Chiefs in Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch.
Why? Well, first he had to find a pen.
There was an Eagles fan in the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel holding out a kelly green No. 98 jersey. Carter found a pen, signed it, waved to the traveling fans and made his way to the locker room with a smile on his face.
Sunday was a much different scene for the Eagles’ All-Pro defensive tackle.
Last week, Carter was escorted off the field and into the locker room by head of security Dom DiSandro. Six seconds into the Eagles’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Carter was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott.
On Tuesday, the NFL handed down its punishment for Carter’s actions: a $57,222 fine and a one-game “suspension” served by sitting out vs. Dallas. Carter was cleared to play against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City.
Carter didn’t speak to the media during any of the open locker room sessions throughout the week. But he addressed reporters after the Eagles’ Week 2 triumph over the Chiefs.
“I’m not even thinking about that,” Carter said, when asked about the NFL’s discipline. “I’m only thinking about today. Happy to get out here with the guys and come out and play.”
And he played well. Carter was a force inside for a front four that frustrated the Chiefs all day. The third-year defensive tackle hit Mahomes three times and logged one TFL. His play also opened up opportunities for others to thrive, helping hold the Chiefs to 17 points.
Before Mahomes’ deep touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs averaged 4.3 yards per play. Kansas City’s tailbacks managed 55 yards on 19 carries. Carter had a big say in that.
Carter said a “little conversation” with Nick Sirianni during the week helped. The head coach was “speaking positivity” to Carter after the spitting incident that drew national headlines.
“The internet will say what they say,” Carter said of his chat with Sirianni. “Spoke some positivity to me. It boosted my energy for this week, just to get ready, to get the W with the team.”
Carter said he felt like he had some “catching up to do” in practice this past week after missing Week 1 entirely. He moved “past” the situation with Prescott and focused on Kansas City.
Moving forward, Carter was asked if he thinks opposing teams or players will try to bait him into making another mistake like he did against the Cowboys.
Carter shrugged his shoulders.
“If they do that, that’s taunting towards me,” Carter said. “So they should be receiving a flag.”