The Philadelphia Eagles are scrambling to figure out defensive line depth after the surprise news that Jalen Carter will miss time. The star defender underwent a procedure on his shoulders that will sideline him for at least Monday Night Football's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. With this in mind, Philly has a clear issue not having much depth at the position outside of Jordan Davis. Even with Carter healthy in the lineup, the team has explored outside-the-box alternatives, including lining up defensive end Brandon Graham on the inside.
The Athletic's Zach Berman noted that this is a look that Philly has already used against Dallas. Moving Graham to the inside not only helps you offset the loss of Carter but also gives the veteran a chance to settle in. Since returning from retirement, Graham's level of play on the edge has been understandably shaky. This isn't entirely unexpected, though, given the time missed over the last two years.
It will take the veteran time to get back up to speed, and moving him to the inside in Week 14 could help buy this needed time. At the very least, Graham's size allows you to plug up the middle of the defense and allows younger edge rushers to work within a struggling defense.
Eagles Veteran Brandon Graham Could Provide Surprise Solution to Injury Woes
Even if moving Graham to the inside doesn't improve the production from the former star edge rusher, there is still immense value in having Graham rostered. The championship experience and steadying leadership that the 2x Super Bowl champ can provide cannot be understated. This is especially the case when considering just how young the Philly defense is currently.
Graham is third in Eagles history in sacks behind only Trent Cole and the great Reggie White. This garners a certain level of respect that other players simply cannot. It is the type of experience and outlook a young Philly team especially needs when you consider the antics of Jalen Carter and A.J. Brown throughout the 2025 season.
Moving Graham to the inside this week both gives you a chance to keep this leadership actively in the lineup while filling a clear roster concern. It would be surprising if defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn't at least attempt to give the lineman a bit more of a run on the inside of the Philly defense.
Looking at the rest of the roster, it is clear that Davis and Moro Ojomo are going to be under immense pressure to deliver against a physical Los Angeles Chargers front. Coming off a performance where the Eagles gave up nearly 300 rushing yards to the Chicago Bears (with Jalen Carter), the pressure is at an all-time high, demanding that Philly searches for every possible answer, including moving the accomplished Graham to the inside.