Eagles’ Jalen Carter Gets Big Injury Update Before Vikings Game
- Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles' star DT, is listed as questionable with a heel injury for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
- ESPN's Adam Schefter provided a significant update on Carter's status.
- Carter's potential return strengthens the Eagles' defense as they aim to rebound after recent losses.
Philadelphia Eagles fans have been waiting on word about the status of star defensive tackle Jalen Carter heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Pro Bowl DT is dealing with a heel injury that forced him to sit out the defending champions’ disappointing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 6.
The Eagles felt the absence of Carter significantly against the Giants, with rookie running back Cam Skattebo scoring three rushing touchdowns in the game. Carter’s potential absence on Sunday could be a big problem again for Philadelphia against Minnesota’s running game.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) during a game.Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Carter himself declared his intention to play on Sunday as he logged a full practice on Wednesday despite the heel issue. However, the former Georgia Bulldogs standout ended up being a limited participant for both practices on Thursday and Friday. The Eagles officially listed Carter as questionable to play against the Vikings, casting serious doubt on his availability for Sunday’s contest.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided a big update on Carter’s status for the Minnesota game. According to the renowned NFL reporter, Carter is good to go for Sunday.
“Eagles DT Jalen Carter, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a heel injury, is expected to play vs. the Vikings, per source,” reported Schefter on X.
This is a significant development for the Eagles, whose defense gets shored up with the return of Carter. Philadelphia should be able to better control the line of scrimmage in run defense. His inside presence should also free up the outside pass rush and help collapse the pocket, thereby applying a lot of pressure on quarterback Carson Wentz.
After winning their first four games of the season, the Eagles have lost back-to-back contests. They will be looking to get their title defense back on track against the Vikings, and Carter’s return to the lineup should help their cause significantly.
The Vikings host Sunday’s matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Kickoff is scheduled at 1:00 p.m. ET.
This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Broncos grab attention with QB move before Week 7 vs. Giants
The Denver Broncos made a few roster changes as they prepare for their Week 7 game against the New York Giants at Empower Field at Mile High. The team signed third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger to the practice squad on Saturday, whom they released from the active roster on Friday to clear a spot for inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ehlinger serves as QB3 behind starter Bo Nix and backup Jarrett Stidham. Denver can now elevate him to the game-day roster up to three times this season. To accommodate Ehlinger, the Broncos released defensive back A.J. Woods and wide receiver Thayer Thomas, the latter departing with an injury settlement.
Greenlaw’s arrival adds another feather to Denver’s defensive cap. The veteran linebacker, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal in March after six seasons in San Francisco, missed the first six games due to quad injuries sustained both in spring workouts and July practice.
Activated from injured reserve on Saturday, Greenlaw participated fully in practice on Friday and is likely to contribute in a limited role against the Giants. His return could influence snap distribution at inside linebacker, where Justin Strnad has handled 75% of snaps and recorded 3.5 sacks with 25 tackles through six games.
The Broncos enter Week 7 on a three-game winning streak and are seeking their fourth straight victory to improve to 5-2. Denver’s defense has been solid in six games, ranking first in yards per play, sacks, quarterback hits, third-down efficiency, and red-zone defense, while sitting second in both scoring and total defense.
Bo Nix has benefited from the pass rush, having been sacked no more than twice per game, helping the Broncos maintain the league’s best sack differential. If Denver adds three more sacks this week, it would set an NFL record for best differential through seven games.
On the other hand, New York arrives having won two of its last three games behind rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. Dart has thrown six touchdowns since Week 4 with no interceptions and a 104.1 passer rating in a clean pocket, but struggles under pressure, completing only 48% of passes with a 48.6 rating. Skattebo has amassed 425 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns since Week 3, forcing 23 missed tackles during that span.
The Broncos’ top-ranked pass rush and defensive consistency will be a make-or-break factor in containing the Giants’ young stars and maintaining the team’s seven-game home win streak.
