For the second time this season, the Philadelphia Eagles will be playing without arguably their best defensive player.
NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter popped up on the inactives list for the Eagles just ahead of their Thursday Night Football road game against the New York Giants.
“Eagles DT Jalen Carter, who was added to the injury report Wednesday due to a heel injury, is inactive for tonight’s game against the Giants,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on October 9.
Carter famously missed the season opener for the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles when he spit on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just 6 seconds into the game — before the first offensive snap was even taken — and was ejected.
The NFL fined Carter a whopping $57,222 for the incident.
Carter, a 2023 first round pick (No. 9 overall) was dominant in his second season with the Eagles but has gotten off to a relatively slow start in 2025 with zero sacks through his first 4 games.
No Carter Could Spell Problems for Eagles
As one of the NFL’s most popular and talented young players, Carter’s absence was quickly noticed by Eagles fans and NFL fans alike ahead of the NFC East showdown — a game that comes just one week after the Eagles blew a fourth quarter lead against the Denver Broncos in Week 5 to fall to 4-1.
“No Jalen Carter is significant,” ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan wrote on his official X account. “Best player on the Eagles defense.”
“If Jalen Carter is out, that could mean that we’ll see a career-high in regular season snaps for Ty Robinson and Gabe Hall tonight,” The Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona wrote. “Robinson has never played more than two snaps. Hall has never played more than five snaps.”
“Jalen Carter clearly isn’t playing up to his level from last year, but he also flashed a lot more early on,” Bleeding Green’s Jonny Page wrote on his official X account on October 7 following the loss to the Broncos. “He played 67 (!) snaps this week, and it’s hard not to think that workload is taking a toll. Look at him beat the double team here and make a really athletic tackle.
Carter Regarded as Generational Talent
If Carter can get out of his own way, he could be a generational talent for the Eagles and in the NFL — and he could land one of the biggest paydays for a defensive player in NFL history as he’s eligible for his first contract extension following this season.
ESPN put Carter as the NFL’s No. 3 defensive tackle in its preseason position rankings as voted on by a group of coaches, scouts and executives.
Carter was ranked as high as No. 1 by several executives and no lower than No. 4. He was an honorable mention pick in the 2024 preseason rankings.
One thing that speaks to Carter actually being the most valuable player on the list is that, at 24 years old, he’s a full 3 years younger than anyone else in the Top 10.
“A year ago, evaluators around the league projected big things for Carter, who had already shown a knack for beating top-shelf offensive guards at the line,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on July 8. “He validated that faith with All-Pro second-team honors, a Pro Bowl nod and a Super Bowl ring. Carter’s 4.5 sacks and 8.8% pass rush win rate are not gaudy, but he’s the classic need-to-see-him-in-person player.”
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