Jalen Carter’s Shoulder Still a Factor as Eagles’ D-Line Faces Heavy Workload
There’s no denying it anymore-Jalen Carter just hasn’t looked like himself this season. And now, we know why. According to Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the shoulder injury Carter suffered before training camp is still lingering, and it’s affecting both his performance and his availability.
Carter played just 70.1% of the defensive snaps in the Eagles’ recent loss to the Bears-his third-lowest snap share in the past two seasons. That’s a telling number for a player who, just a year ago, was a breakout star on one of the league’s most feared defensive fronts.
The Shoulder That Won’t Go Away
Carter first tweaked the shoulder back in the summer, missing the first three practices of training camp. Since then, it’s been a recurring issue.
He’s appeared on the injury report multiple times-before games against the Cowboys, Rams, and Broncos-with the team listing him as “limited” in practice. Still, he hasn’t missed a game due to the shoulder.
But even when he’s been active, he hasn’t looked like the same disruptive force we saw last season. He missed several series against Tampa Bay because of the shoulder and logged a season-low 47 snaps in that game. Add in a missed game against the Giants due to a heel injury, and it’s clear Carter’s been battling through more than just the usual wear and tear.
Fangio didn’t sugarcoat it: “He does have a shoulder issue,” he said. “He's been playing with it.
You know, late in the [Bears] game, he had a great play with it. But yeah, it's definitely something there.”
Production Dip Tells the Story
Even with flashes of his old self-like his second sack of the season against the Bears, along with two tackles for loss and a pair of pass breakups-Carter’s overall impact has dipped. He struggled against the run on Friday, part of a defensive effort that allowed 281 rushing yards-tenth-most in the Eagles’ 94-year history.
That’s not the kind of stat line you want to see with December football heating up.
The advanced metrics back it up, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Carter ranks 94th out of 117 interior defensive linemen in run defense grade (minimum 200 snaps).
Overall, he sits 55th out of 117. For a guy who was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro just last season, that’s a noticeable drop-off.
Fangio’s assessment of Carter’s performance against the Bears? “Yeah, it was a lot like the rest of us, you know?
Some good, some not good. I think we were all guilty of that.”
Snaps Tell the Bigger Story
Carter’s playing time has taken a hit, too. Last year, he was on the field for 79.4% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.
This season, that number’s down to 71.6%. On Friday, with Carter limited and the defense forced to grind through a season-high 87 snaps, the rest of the D-line had to step up.
Jordan Davis logged a season-high 59 snaps-just two shy of his career high. Moro Ojomo matched his career high with 62 snaps, while Byron Young saw a career-high 38 snaps.
And with the Eagles looking ahead to a Monday night matchup with the Chargers, Fangio hinted that rookie Ty Robinson might finally get some run. The fourth-round pick has played just 35 snaps all year and has been inactive since the bye week. But with the defensive line stretched thin and Carter still working through that shoulder, Robinson could be in line for a bigger role.
What’s Next?
The Eagles won’t release their first injury report of the week until Thursday, but all eyes will be on Carter’s status. If the shoulder continues to limit him, the Eagles will need more from their rotation-especially with playoff positioning on the line.
Carter’s still capable of making impact plays, even through injury. But for Philly’s defense to get back to its dominant form, they’ll need their young star healthy-and soon.