Report: Jalen Carter returns to Eagles lineup this week, but his shoulder injury may still hold him back

Jalen Carter is back, which is great, but if you think this means the Eagles are suddenly getting the same dude they had earlier in the season, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

Because this injury was bad. Like, way worse than “playing through it” bad.

Jalen Carter’s shoulder issues didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. They’ve been lingering since training camp and finally boiled over during the Bears game, where the tape apparently got so ugly that the Eagles started pulling him off the field on early downs. That basically never happens unless something is seriously wrong.

And here’s the part that really tells the story: Carter couldn’t lift. Not “limited reps.” Not “lighter weight.” He couldn’t lift at all. Even doing pushups was painful because his shoulders were cooked and he didn’t have the strength to support himself.

That’s not being banged up. That’s being broken.

Jalen Carter Was Basically Playing With One Arm Tied Behind His Back

The Eagles most dominating defensive player, Jalen Carter, expects to return Sunday. It will be a boost for the defense. He says his shoulders feel a lot better after the procedures he had on them, multiple shots, but he will still need to do more on his shoulders after the…

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 26, 2025

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Defensive tackle is nothing but hand fighting. Punch, shed, repeat. Carter admitted he couldn’t strike, couldn’t use his hands the way he normally does, and couldn’t generate power because his shoulders wouldn’t cooperate.

So yeah, if you were watching him wondering why he didn’t look like the same wrecking ball from earlier in the year, congratulations — you were right. He wasn’t.

He tried to tough it out anyway, which only made things worse. Eventually, after the Bears loss, he shut it down and got multiple injections in both shoulders. That’s the point where the Eagles finally pulled the plug and told him to sit.

The Shots Help, But This Isn’t “Fixed”

The injections worked. Carter feels better. He can practice again. He can actually use his upper body without wanting to scream.

But even he has admitted this isn’t some miracle cure. He doesn’t expect to feel 100% during the playoff run and already knows this is something he’ll have to deal with again in the offseason.

In other words: this is a band-aid. A necessary one, but still a band-aid.

That’s also why the Eagles aren’t just throwing him back out there for 60 snaps, even though Carter wants exactly that. The goal right now isn’t healing him. It’s keeping him upright long enough to matter in January.

Why Jalen Carter Still Matters (Even Like This)

Even a less-than-healthy Jalen Carter changes how offenses line up. Period.

The defensive line held its own while he was out — Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Brandon Graham sliding inside — all fine. But none of those guys make offensive coordinators lose sleep the way Carter does.

If the shots give him back even part of his hand strength, that’s a huge boost for this defense. He says conditioning won’t be an issue. He was able to run and lift while sidelined, and he’s already feeling the difference in practice.

That doesn’t mean he’s back-back. It just means he’s usable again. Jalen Carter isn’t returning healed. He’s returning functional.

A few weeks ago, he could barely do a pushup. Now he’s lining up in meaningful December football and trying to power through a playoff run. That’s the reality.

It’s good news for the Eagles. Just don’t pretend it’s a fairytale ending.