The Philadelphia Eagles will have to recalibrate their defensive plans as they move deeper into the 2025 NFL season, with one of their most impactful linemen temporarily out of the picture.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is expected to miss Philadelphia’s upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers after undergoing procedures on both shoulders on December 1, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While details surrounding the treatment were not disclosed, Schefter reported that Carter is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis as his recovery continues.
Despite the uncertainty around his return timetable, the Eagles are not placing Carter on injured reserve at this time. That decision suggests the team believes the injury can be managed without a prolonged absence, even if Carter is forced to miss multiple games.
The exact moment Carter injured his shoulders hasn’t been made public. He was active in the Eagles’ Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, appearing in 61 defensive snaps. That workload accounted for just over 70 percent of Philadelphia’s defensive plays — a noticeable dip compared to most of his outings this season.
Outside of the season opener, when Carter was ejected without taking a snap, it marked his lowest participation rate of the year.
Before the injury details surfaced, Carter had quietly been one of the Eagles’ most relied-upon defenders. The third-year defensive tackle leads all Philadelphia linemen in defensive snaps with 581 on the season.
He’s also tallied 32 tackles and two sacks, while creating consistent disruption in the backfield.
With Carter unavailable, Philadelphia will turn to a familiar group to stabilize the interior of the defensive line. Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis are expected to handle the bulk of the work at defensive tackle, while Byron Young and rookie fourth-round pick Ty Robinson move into more prominent rotational roles.
The Eagles also have veteran options waiting in the wings, with Gabe Hall and Ta’Quon Graham currently on the practice squad, should additional depth be needed.