On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Eagles released an injury report that didn't offer the best update for star defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Carter was listed as a non-participant coming off of shoulder surgery and just missed Philly's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, it seems very likely that Carter is going to miss another week with the Eagles, having every reason for concern.
The latest Carter update sets up defensive lineman Byron Young for another start and a chance to prove he deserves a larger role in Philadelphia's defense. Against the Chargers, the defender finished with a career-high eight total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovered in what was a breakout performance.
With Carter likely to miss more time, Week 15 offers the chance for Young to either cement his standing or prove that last week's production was simply a fluke.
Byron Young Can Cement Eagles' Future with Week 15 Performance
For Young, it is hard to ask for a better setup to continue his momentum, facing a Las Vegas Raiders offensive line that has allowed quarterback Geno Smith to be sacked 49 times this season heading into the matchup. There's also a chance he might even face Raiders backup QB Kenny Pickett, as Smith's status is currently up in the air.
Young getting a chance to start again isn't the worst thing for the franchise, as it allows a star player to further heal, and gives Young the chance to cement himself into a contributing role. If Young can repeat his Week 14 performance all of a sudden, the Eagles have a trio of defensive tackles they can trust in Carter, Young, and Jordan Davis. This would be an incredible weapon that allows the Philly line to consistently dominate while keeping the starters fresh.
If there is one critique or frustration with Carter, it has been a past tendency to wear down or become obviously gassed deep into games. This points out the incredible value that Young can bring to the lineup if he can continue to play at a high level and be a legitimate option to spell Carter and Davis for stretches without any overwhelming regression.
On the flip side, if Young isn't able to put up numbers and produce against a struggling Las Vegas offensive front, it will be telling. Struggling against a team this undermanned clearly points to last week being an outlier and the clear need for Carter to return to health as quickly as possible.
This makes it clear that a Week 15 game against the Raiders has deeper meaning for Young and the rest of his 2025 season. Putting together another great game would simply be too glaring to ignore and offer the Eagles some much-needed positivity heading into Week 16.