Jalen Carter’s Injury Update

The Eagles’ defensive tackle, Jalen Carter, missed the game against the Chargers on Monday and will be out on a week-to-week basis following surgery on both shoulders on the same day.

Struggling with shoulder-related issues for much of this season, Carter is now focusing on recovery to be as close to full strength as possible before the playoffs roll around.

In the wake of Philadelphia’s 24-15 defeat to the Bears on Black Friday, the 24-year-old Pro Bowl tackle acknowledged that he had not performed up to his potential, taking the blame for the team’s struggles.

“I’m blaming myself for that, because we conceded some goals and it didn’t affect our play in any way,” he mentioned.

When pressed about the reasons behind his struggles, Carter candidly said, “That’s something I have to deal with. I’m not going to tell everyone what I’m going through.”

This season, he’s recorded one sack, two quarterback hits, and four tackles, which includes one pass defended. He spent part of the first half sitting on the bench, while Byron Young, a third-year player, took to the field for 38 snaps.

Carter himself participated in 61 snaps during the game, which is about 70% of the total plays. However, the Eagles’ defense allowed a hefty 281 rushing yards.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed Carter’s situation, noting, “He’s got some shoulder issues. He’s been playing with it. Late in the game, he made some great plays with it, and there’s definitely something there.”

As Carter recovers, he has some decent numbers behind him—32 tackles, four tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and two sacks across 10 games this season. He also played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs earlier this year.

In his absence, Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis are expected to step up and lead the defense. The Eagles, currently holding an 8-4 record, will face the Chargers, who share the same record, tonight at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.