Penn State star edge rusher Abdul Carter seemingly has all the makings of being a star at the NFL level, which has had him as one of the top names to watch at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft. But unfortunately, some worrying injury news emerged about Carter on Wednesday night that could certainly give interested teams cause for concern.
This past season, Carter ranked inside the top ten in sacks this past season at the FBS Division-1 level, recording 12 sacks on the year.
When you watch tape of Carter, his athleticism clearly jumps off the screen in a way that is quite rare to see at the collegiate level. This had Carter as a potential top-five pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
However, that may change based on a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday night. According to Schefter, Carter has a stress reaction in his right foot. Original reports even suggested that this injury could require surgery, which would obviously cause Carter to miss the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine this week.
Tests today revealed that potential No. 1 pick Abdul Carter has a stress reaction in his right foot and the Penn State standout will need to decide soon whether to have surgery, sources told ESPN.
“There are mixed opinions on whether he needs surgery, and we will figure that out… pic.twitter.com/9nyRyjFxlG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2025
Luckily, further reports on Thursday from Schefter have confirmed that Carter will not be having surgery. And it seems like Carter will still be able to compete at Penn State’s Pro Day next month.
Doctors told Penn St. DE and projected No. 1 pick Abdul Carter that, after further scans on his right foot, surgery is not advisable. Carter will work out at his March 28 pro day at Penn State.
“I couldn’t be more confident that this will be a non-factor where he’s drafted,”… pic.twitter.com/pHTkIzDcWM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2025
Hopefully this unfortunate news is only a blip on the radar for Carter as he continues the pre-draft process, as Carter sure seems to be destined to be an impact player at the NFL level should he be able to stay healthy.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.