PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is expected to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills after missing one month because of injuries to his shoulders, giving the Eagles’ defense a major boost entering the postseason. He is not on the final injury report after returning to practice this week.
Carter, the centerpiece of the defense, had played through pain in both shoulders throughout the season. It reached a boiling point after Week 13, when he underwent a procedure in an attempt to get healthier for the Eagles’ playoff run. Carter said the pain and limited flexibility became so bad that he could not even do a push-up by the time he was sidelined. He now has strength back in his shoulders, and he noticed a difference in practice.
“I’m going to play blocks better, play with my hands more,” Carter said this week. “The shoulders were kind of restricting it.”
He admitted he’s not at full strength, but he’s healthy enough to play football again. Carter expects to re-examine the recovery this offseason. Until then, he’ll be a pivotal part of next month’s effort to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
“I can’t get too excited because I’m still working on it every day, still getting strength back,” Carter said. “I had a couple times (in practice) where I struck the O-line to where I could test out the shoulders, and I felt pretty good.”
Carter, 24, was a second-team All-Pro last season. He made his second Pro Bowl in three years this season, even though he was limited to 10 games and played through injuries. Carter played 85.3 percent of the defensive snaps when he was in uniform. (This did not count the Week 1 game when he was ejected for spitting at Dak Prescott.) He could be eased back into his regular role, although he was not ready to put limitations on his workload.
“I’m trying to play every snap,” Carter said. “We gotta see. I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
“He’s had a good week of practice and I’m excited to be able to get him back out there if that’s the route we go this week and if we’re ready this week,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said before practice on Friday. “Just excited to get him back out there, and he’s a phenomenal football player and so it’s always good when Jalen Carter is on the field.”
The Eagles’ interior defensive line has excelled even without Carter. Jordan Davis emerged as one of the team’s top players this season. Moro Ojomo leads the Eagles in sacks with five. Byron Young has been a valuable contributor, and 16-year veteran Brandon Graham bounced inside as a full-time interior rusher for the first time in his career. One of the under-the-radar developments this month has been the defensive line’s performance even without their best player.
“Nothing changes with this defense, we lose a guy, next man up,” Carter said. “Only thing is another D-lineman added to the line. That’s it.”
The modesty does not tell the full story. When Carter is healthy, he can change games along the line of scrimmage. Carter has struggled with his conditioning when he’s missed time in the past. He said he’s been running and lifting weights to stay in shape. Nothing replaces actual football snaps, which is why the team might want to get him back on the field before the playoffs. (Lane Johnson, who is the other high-profile player injured during the past month, still has not returned to practice and is out against the Bills.)
What indicators should one seek to see if Carter is back to the elite form?
“I think showing I’m back,” Carter said, “is going all the way and winning the (Super Bowl) as a team.”