The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t going to have one of the NFL’s dominant defensive players for the most critical stretch of games this season after All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent surgery on both of his shoulders and won’t play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 14.
The Eagles have lost 2 consecutive games and are 8-4 following a Black Friday home loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
“Sources: Eagles DT Jalen Carter is out for Monday night’s game vs. the Chargers after undergoing a procedure this past Monday on both his shoulders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Thursday, December 4. “Carter now is undergoing treatment on both shoulders, and he will be considered be week to week to return. Carter wanted to be as close to 100% as possible for the playoff run … This easily could turn out to be a multi-week absence, but being placed on injured reserve doesn’t seem to be an option now; Jalen Carter will be considered week to week.”
The injury news on Carter might explain part of his drop off in play in 2025.
Carter has just 20 tackles and 2.0 sacks through 10 games. He’s missed 2 games this season after he was ejected before the first snap of a season opening win over the Dallas Cowboys and missed a Week 6 loss to the New York Giants with a heel injury.
In 2024, Carter had a breakout season with 42 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12 TFL, 6 pass deflections and 16 QB hits to go with 9 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble in 4 postseason games.
Carter’s Infamous Start to 2025 Regular Season
Few players have started a season like Carter did in 2025. And not in a good way.
Just moments before the first snap of a Week 1 primetime game against the Cowboys — a Thursday night game to kick off the NFL’s entire regular season schedule — Carter spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and was ejected from the game.
The NFL fined Carter $57,000 and gave him a 1-game suspension that was considered served because he sat out the entire game against the Cowboys.
“Jalen Carter may have well just spit in the face of every member of this team and the coaching staff (for the Eagles),” NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth said. “If they lose this game tonight, it’s because Jalen Carter did that before they even played a snap.”
Carter On Path for Record Contract Extension
Even with Spitgate and a less-than-stellar statline, it’s still pretty likely the Eagles are going to make Carter the highest paid interior defensive lineman in NFL history either after this season or next season.
Carter, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, won a pair of College Football Playoff national championships at Georgia and signed a 4-year, $21.8 million rookie contract that runs out after 2026.
His next contract would likely top the 5-year, $158.75 million contract extension 3-time Super Bowl champion and 6-time All-Pro Chris Jones signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2024.
Jones’ contract included $60 million in guaranteed money — a number Carter’s deal should also exceed — and pays him $31.75 million in average annual salary.
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