The Eagles are heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders with a major question mark in the middle of their defense - and it’s a big one. Jalen Carter, their most disruptive interior lineman, will miss his second straight game as he works his way back from shoulder procedures reportedly done on both sides. For a team that’s built its defensive identity around dominance up front, that’s not a small void to fill.
Carter sat out Monday’s overtime loss to the Chargers - a 22-19 heartbreaker - after undergoing treatment just days earlier. And while the Eagles haven’t released many specifics, it’s clear that Carter’s been dealing with shoulder issues for a while.
Throughout training camp and into the season, he was often seen grimacing or favoring one arm, signs that he was pushing through discomfort. After the Black Friday loss to the Bears, when he logged his lowest snap count of the year, Carter finally acknowledged the shoulder was bothering him.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio later confirmed it.
Carter actually left that Bears game with the injury, but returned to finish it out. “I’ve got to finish for the guys,” he said afterward - a quote that speaks volumes about his mindset, even if his body wasn’t fully cooperating.
Now in his third season, Carter hasn't quite looked like the game-wrecker we saw in 2024. He’s still been productive - 2 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss - but those numbers don’t jump off the page the way they did last year. For a player with All-Pro potential, it’s been a quieter campaign, and the shoulder issues may help explain why.
The procedures Carter underwent took place on December 4, less than a week after that Bears game. While the Eagles haven’t confirmed the nature of the treatment, outside medical experts have weighed in.
One common theory is that Carter received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections - a non-surgical option that aims to speed up soft tissue healing by injecting concentrated platelets into the injured area. It’s a treatment that’s gained popularity among athletes looking to avoid surgery and stay on the field.
Dr. Dinesh Dhanaraj, an orthopedic surgeon at St.
Mary Medical Center, broke down how PRP works. Blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, and then re-injected into the injured area.
The idea is to reduce inflammation and promote healing - though, as Dr. Dhanaraj pointed out, the science isn’t fully settled.
While PRP has shown promise in treating things like tennis elbow and Achilles tendinitis, the broader data is still early and inconclusive. That said, there’s little downside to the procedure, and many athletes have turned to it as a way to manage injuries mid-season.
For Carter, the timeline is murky. PRP doesn’t require recovery time the way surgery does, and some patients feel better within a few weeks.
But it’s not a magic fix. It’s not a painkiller, and it doesn’t necessarily repair structural damage.
If Carter’s dealing with something more serious - a partial tear, for instance - it’s possible he’ll need more extensive treatment in the offseason.
In the short term, the Eagles managed to hold their own without him against a Chargers offensive line that was missing key starters. The interior D-line stepped up, and the unit held its ground. This week’s opponent, the Raiders, also comes in with a banged-up offensive front, which could give Philly’s defense another opportunity to survive without its star tackle.
But the real tests are coming. After the Raiders, the Eagles face two NFC East rivals - including a Washington team with a much-improved offensive line - and a heavyweight matchup with the Buffalo Bills in between. If the Eagles are going to make a serious push in the postseason, they’ll need Carter not just back on the field, but back to being the force he was last year.
The Eagles are in a tricky spot. They could try to rest Carter until the playoffs to maximize his recovery window.
But after dropping three straight, they haven’t clinched anything yet. Every game matters now, and that makes Carter’s situation even more delicate.
Rush him back too soon, and you risk aggravating the injury. Wait too long, and you might not make it to January.
For now, it’s a waiting game. The Eagles are hoping their defensive depth can hold the line - literally - until Carter is ready. But make no mistake: if this team is going to make another deep playoff run, they’ll need No. 98 back in the middle, wrecking game plans and collapsing pockets.