The Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants are set to take the field in primetime on Thursday Night Football. The division rivals are squaring off at MetLife Stadium as both teams are looking to bounce back from tough losses in Week 5.
The Eagles were dealt a devastating blow, though, as their star defensive tackle, Jalen Carter, will not be available for the Eagles against the Giants.
What Happened to Jalen Carter?
Carter will not be playing in Week 6 for Philadelphia after not participating in pregame workouts with a heel injury. This is not the news that Philadelphia was looking to take advantage of against a struggling Giants team.
He was questionable throughout the week after being added to the injury report. Unfortunately, he couldn’t go tonight, and the Eagles will have to rely on their depth in the trenches.
#Eagles DT Jalen Carter is INACTIVE for tonight’s game against the #Giants. pic.twitter.com/AR3mbQY9b0
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 9, 2025
Carter hasn’t been inactive before this season, but missed the season opener after spitting on Dak Prescott before a ball was snapped. The Eagles weren’t at the top of their game defending the run in Week 1 without Carter up the middle, so they will have to address that quickly as game time approaches.
The Eagles’ defense and special teams have contributed to their 4-1 start. The offense has struggled to find its form in 2025. Stars A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, and Saquon Barkley are working to resolve any issues the offense is facing. But the rest of the team has picked up the slack.
The Philadelphia Eagles rank 11th in PFSN’s Defense Impact score, earning a grade of 77.5. Now, the unit will have to operate without its star up front. Carter is the 4th-ranked defensive tackle in PFSN’s DT Impact Score with a grade of 87.4. He’s in great company at the top of the ranks with Jeffrey Simmons, DeForest Buckner, and Chris Jones.
Jordan Davis will have to step up big time to ease the blow of Carter’s absence. The Giants’ offense struggled in Week 5, turning the ball over five times. The Eagles’ defense has forced five turnovers throughout their first five weeks. They won’t be able to replace Carter, but they can counteract his absence with big plays from the rest of the defense.
The Eagles are still 4-1 despite not being in top form. The Broncos ended their undefeated dreams in Week 5 as the Eagles failed to hold a two-possession lead. But they still have a lead in the NFC East, and they can pull another game further from the Giants with a win tonight. Divisional games aren’t easy, but time will tell if the Eagles are up for the task without their star.