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Potential number one pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to skip Combine due to injury

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter warming up ahead of the team's matchup against SMU. (December 2024)
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter warming up ahead of the team's matchup against SMU. (December 2024)Scott Taetsch/Getty Images/AFP
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (21), and potential number-one pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, won't partake in the upcoming Combine due to a shoulder injury he sustained at the end of the season.

Carter will undergo medical exams at the combine, however, and will still partake in team interviews. 

"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,'' said Carter's agent Drew Rosenhaus. 

Carter is the top EDGE prospect heading into the NFL Draft that starts on April 24th and ends on April 26th. Many draft boards even have Carter going at the number one overall pick to the Tennessee Titans

The disruptive pass rusher skipping the combine isn't an unusual occurrence despite his injury. Many projected top picks forego the combine given their already high status and/or to avoid any possible injuries or setbacks in the workouts that would force teams to lower them on their draft boards. 

Carter had 68 total tackles last season for Penn State along with a career-high 12 sacks with four pass deflections and two force fumbles.  

If Carter begins to fall in the draft out of nowhere, it's to be expected that teams know more about his shoulder than we do. Otherwise, there's no reason for him to leave the top five undrafted.