Limited Indy Participation for Jalen Carter

The agent for Jalen Carter told NFL teams Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter will not work out at this week's combine, according to reports.

It might not satisfy Bears fans who would like to see one of their team's possible targets exerting himself, but Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter will not work out at the NFL combine this week.

According to numerous reports, Carter's agent has told teams Carter will work out at Georgia's official pro day, which currently is scheduled for March 15.

Teams sometimes schedule a second pro day later.

If the Bears trade down off the first pick of the draft, as a trade report by Adam Schefter suggests will happen, they may not even be able to draft Carter depending on how far down they move. Chicago Tribune reporter Dan Wiederer tweeted over the weekend that the word out of Houston is the Texans will wait a year to draft a quarterback, and if so it's reasonable they could be waiting for Carter with the second pick. Arizona, at No. 3, would be very likely to take Carter if he came available.

A draft-related nugget that has been popular in league circles of late: The Texans, with a new HC and a fairly new GM, may be compelled to delay their big QB dice roll until ‘24.

File that away.

— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) February 25, 2023

ONE POSSIBLE BEARS OPTION IF DAVID MONTGOMERY LEAVES

The reason for Carter not working out was not the result of an injury but he simply doesn't have anything to gain by working out. He can only diminish his status as a possible first pick in the draft.

Carter will have meetings with teams at the combine and will take a physical, according to those reports by ESPN, Pro Football Talk and others.

Carter has been listed as 6-foot-3, 310 pounds and the Bears have a drastic need for defensive tackles and defensive ends. Their only defensive tackle with significant experience is Justin Jones.

In three seasons Carter had six sacks, 18 1/2 tackles for loss and last season caused two fumbles while deflecting three passes.

A negative predraft report about Carter seems to have been proven incorrect or at least very outdated.

ESPN's Todd McShay had reported Jalen Carter had "character issues" and this is something that could affect his draft stock.

None has been produced and late last week it was actually revealed Carter was paying for teammate Weston Wallace's means with his own scholarship money. As a walk-on player, Wallace didn't qualify for meal money from the college program.

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