One of the most pivotal matchups of the 2025 NFL Kickoff on Thursday night pits a rookie against a surging star.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted guard Tyler Booker in the first round to help replace future Hall of Famer Zack Martin, who retired this offseason. The rookie's first test out of the gate: blocking Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter.
"You guys know Book, man," Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Tuesday, via the team’s official website. "He's excited about the option to go play football. He's played against great players. … [and] Jalen's going to win some battles, Book's going to win some battles, and that's football, man. And if you can't get excited about that going into a matchup in a game, hey, man, and in the blocking game, how cool is that?
"Book is ready for the challenge, and it'll be a fun one to watch."
Carter was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2024 after totaling 4.5 sacks, 16 QB hits and six passes defensed (Next Gen Stats: 45 QB pressures, ninth among defensive tackles). According to NGS, Carter had 20 quick QB pressures in 2024 (third among DTs).
Carter's size and movement skills make him a menace to interior blockers.
"He's a great player and I'm very excited to play against him," Booker said. "I'm just approaching it like I've approached every other game since college. It's the most important game because it's the next game. I'm very much looking forward to Thursday."
Carter is the type of player who could completely discombobulate an entire offense if left unchecked. The rookie's ability to win more downs than he loses will be crucial if the Cowboys are to have any chance of upsetting the reigning Super Bowl champions on Thursday night.
