Jalen Carter joins growing Eagles Injury List after 31-25 win in Tampa

Drew Smith
September 29, 2025
Eagles
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The Eagles left Tampa with another win and a growing injury list. Sunday’s 31-25 nail-biter over the Buccaneers came at a cost, with four key players going down: DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (triceps), RG Tyler Steen (knee), RT Lane Johnson (shoulder), and DT Jalen Carter (shoulder).

Even Saquon Barkley had a scare before shaking it off and staying in.

Jalen Carter’s absence is the headline.

Jalen Carter said he aggravated his shoulder in the game and “needed to let it calm down,” which is why he missed time.

Said he advocated to get back in the game and felt it paid off with “assists” on Jihaad Campbell’s INT and a Moro Ojomo’s sack. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/leJtD3D5Tr
— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) September 28, 2025

Jalen Carter already showed in Week 1 what this defense looks like without him and the results aren’t great. They are clearly less dominant, less disruptive, and a whole lot easier to push around. He briefly returned after first leaving with a shoulder injury but couldn’t finish the game.

Jalen Carter exited the game with a shoulder injury, but he eventually returned. Said he "aggravated" an issue he had before. He'll get more info tomorrow.

"I've got to finish for the guys." pic.twitter.com/7YB3KGLnhX
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) September 28, 2025

On the other side of the ball, Lane Johnson leaving is just as concerning. Fred Johnson filled in, but Lane is one of one and Jalen Hurts’ security blanket against the league’s best pass rushers. Without him, the offensive line isn’t the same.

This is piling up fast. The Eagles don’t hit their bye until Week 9, which means four more games to navigate with guys already banged up. Next week it’s the Broncos, followed by the Vikings, and the Giants twice.

There’s a mini-bye after the Thursday night Giants game in Week 6, but that’s just a couple extra days, not nearly enough for guys nursing real injuries.

The Birds have now won 20 of their last 21, but this stretch is about survival. Winning ugly is fine. Winning with backups is fine. The real worry is whether the stars, Jalen Carter and Lane Johnson in particular, can hold up until the bye.