Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) arrives before Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Stephen Lew
The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night without their best defensive lineman.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday that Jalen Carter underwent a procedure on both his shoulders this past Monday. The star defensive tackle is considered week to week to return, but he is out for Monday night's game against the Chargers.
According to Schefter, Carter is now undergoing treatment on both shoulders, and he wanted to be "as close to 100% as possible for the playoff run."
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirmed Wednesday that Carter has played through a shoulder injury for a while. Carter initially suffered the injury before training camp in August even began, and he missed the first three days of training camp as a result.
Throughout the season, Carter's shoulder popped up on the Eagles' injury report numerous times, dating all the way back to the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He was also listed with a shoulder injury before Weeks 3 and 5. Carter missed Week 6's game against the New York Giants with a heel injury.
The third-year defensive tackle has had something of a down year. Coming off Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selections in 2024, Carter hasn't quite looked like himself in 2025, especially against the run.
His snap count is significantly lower than last season's; he has played just 71.6% of the Eagles' defensive snaps this year, compared to 79.4% in 2024. (That 2025 number is also affected by Spitgate in Week 1.) Against the Chicago Bears on Friday, Carter played in only 70.1% of the defensive snaps.
Schefter also reported that the Eagles don't currently feel the need to put Carter on injured reserve, although it "easily could turn out to be a multi-week absence." Carter is prioritizing getting himself right before the Eagles' playoff run, so he's looking to the long-term.
Fangio said Wednesday that fourth-round rookie Ty Robinson could see some snaps as a result of Carter's reduced role, and now that Carter is confirmed out for Monday night, Robinson will definitely play. The rookie has been a healthy scratch in all four games since the Eagles' bye week, and has played just 35 snaps in 2025.
