Stunning Eagles injury update changes Monday night outlook

The 2025 NFL season has been a year of streaks for the Philadelphia Eagles; After winning their first four games to start the season, the Eagles lost two straight games, before winning another four consecutive games.

But now Philadelphia is looking to bounce back from losing their last two games in which the offense has played very erratic. The inconsistency and lack of production on the offensive side of the ball has put extra pressure on the Eagles' defense.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has done a good job with one of the youngest defenses in the National Football League. Philadelphia has allowed the 9th fewest points in the NFL this season (20.8 PPGA), and the second-fewest Passing Touchdowns Against (12).

Yet the Eagles fans got treated to the flaw in their team's defense on Black Friday, which the Chicago Bears became the first team to have two players rush for over 100 yards against the Eagles in Philadelphia since 1960 (September 25th versus the Cleveland Browns).

Philadelphia's Defense Will Be Shorthanded on Monday Night Football

In NFL Week 14, the Eagles are facing a Los Angeles Chargers team that has compiled at least 310 Total Yards in four of their last five games. Now the Eagles will be without arguably their most important defensive player against the Chargers.

Multiple reports have come out saying the Defensive Tackle Jalen Carter will not play on Monday Night Football and could miss multiple weeks. The 24-year-old Defensive Tackle had a procedure on both of his Shoulders, and has already begun to receive treatments. Carter wants to be "as close to 100% as possible" for Philadelphia's upcoming postseason run.

Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio admitted earlier this week that Carter's Shoulder Injuries have impact his play this season:

"He does have a shoulder issue. He has been playing with it. Late in the game, he had a great play with it, but it's definitely something there."

Jalen Carter's Shoulder issues actually predate the 2025 NFL season, but he has playing through it the last couple years. The two games he was not on the field this season was due to the Dak Prescott Spitting Incident in Week One, and Week Six he was ruled out for the Thursday Night Game versus the New York Giants with a Heel Injury.

Former NFL Team Doctor David Chao believes that the procedure that Jalen Carter had was "likely PRP injections rather than surgery" because Jalen Carter was seen at Eagles practice without any sling or brace.  According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections:

"PRP treatment can help support wound healing in trauma and joint injury....The results of PRP treatment are most noticeable after several weeks for joint injections - Because the treatments use a patient’s own tissues, PRP injections are safe and can be administered alone or used in conjunction with other procedures."

Without Jalen Carter, the Eagles will lean more on Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo on the defensive line. Philadelphia also has former Alabama Defensive Lineman Byron Young, and Rookie Ty Robinson on the active 53-man roster, both who can play on the interior of the defensive line. The Eagles also have 6'6" Defensive Tackle Gabe Hall on the Practice Squad.