Why Jalen Carter, Lane Johnson are not playing vs Commanders. Eagles give injury update

Top Eagles stars Jalen Carter and Lane Johnson ruled out for NFL week 16 against Commanders after limited practice participation

Published on: Dec 21, 2025, 02:34:51 IST

By Shirin Gupta

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The Philadelphia Eagles will be without two key players, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and offensive tackle Lane Johnson, in the Week 16 Eagles vs Commanders on Saturday.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65), and Jalen Carter (98) to sit out the Week 16 game (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (AP)

The team confirmed in its injury report that both players were listed as out after missing all practices this week due to lingering injuries.

What's keeping Carter out?

Carter has been ruled out for the third straight game because of shoulder injuries, which have limited his practice participation all week. Carter’s absence weakens a defensive front that ranked among the league’s best in recent seasons, particularly in run defense and interior pass rush.

Earlier in the season, reports indicated that Carter had played through shoulder issues, and he underwent treatment this month that sidelined him for multiple games. The Eagles elected to prioritise his recovery rather than risk further aggravation against the Commanders.

Carter concluded the season with strong defensive stats through 10 games, including 32 tackles, two sacks, and 11 quarterback hits. However, his absence from recent practices forced the Eagles to sideline him once more, particularly with playoff positioning at stake.

Johnson's foot injury

Johnson remains inactive for the Commanders' game after missing five straight matchups due to a foot injury. He was injured initially in mid-November.

The Eagles’ official announcement noted that Johnson did not practice this week.

Johnson has been a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s offensive line for over a decade. His absence forces backup Fred Johnson into action at right tackle.

Other players on the Eagles’ injury report include tight end Cameron Latu (stinger) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder), both listed as questionable after limited practice participation.

Meanwhile, star running back Saquon Barkley looked likely to play after fully participating in Wednesday’s session despite a minor stinger earlier in the week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shirin Gupta
Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues. Shirin has worked on a wide range of fast-moving and developing stories locally when she was at NCC editing accessible reports for the audience. Her current role requires her to track real-time updates, verify information and present balanced coverage across diverse beats. Covering US politics from an international newsroom perspective has further deepened her understanding of how domestic decisions can have far-reaching global consequences. With a keen interest in international affairs, Shirin continues to build her expertise in geopolitics, policy shifts, and cross-border developments. She aims to learn and evolve her reporting in matters of geopolitics and international issues. Outside the newsroom Shirin writes about books and music for her personal blog. She is an avid consumer of pop culture and reveres literature.Read More

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