Former Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will not be participating in workouts at the NFL Combine this week as he is still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained late in the season. Projected to be a top-five pick in April’s NFL Draft, Carter’s decision was initially reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
Penn St. DE and potential No. 1 pick Abdul Carter will not work out at the combine because he has not fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered vs. Boise State, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. Carter played through the injury vs. Notre Dame in… pic.twitter.com/SJlgCMKqxl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2025
Schefter also noted that Rosenhaus communicated with every NFL team, indicating that Carter is cleared to begin workouts and plans to perform at Penn State’s pro day. “We fully expect Abdul to be recovered in time to work out at his pro day at Penn State, and he will perform at a very high level,” Rosenhaus stated.
Skipping Combine drills is increasingly common among NFL players. Shedeur Sanders and Ashton Jeanty have announced they will only participate in interviews, and notable players like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye also opted out of drills last season. Despite missing the Combine, it’s unlikely Carter’s decision will affect his draft stock, as he was named the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American, having recorded 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in the 2024 season.
