Penn State Edge Rusher, Potential Top NFL Draft Pick Abdul Carter Will Not Work Out at Pro Day

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, who has the potential to become the Nittany Lions’ first No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection since 2000, will not work out at the team’s Pro Day on Friday, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.

Carter is “still finishing up rehab on the shoulder injury” he sustained in Penn State’s 31-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Boise State on Dec. 31. It was an injury that kept the All-American edge rusher from competing in February’s NFL Scouting Combine. 

It was also revealed during the combine that Carter, who told reporters in Indianapolis that he was “probably 90%” healthy, had a stress reaction in his right foot that wouldn’t require surgery.

Carter confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he’d participate in Friday’s Pro Day after he was advised by doctors not to undergo surgery on his foot. That post, however, has since been deleted.

Rosenhaus told Schefter that Carter “may still do a workout for teams sometime in mid April,” which would closely precede the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 24. At the combine, Carter declared his intent to attend the draft in person.

The Tennessee Titans currently own the No. 1 pick, and are set to attend a private workout for Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward on Friday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday. Carter, who led the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss this past season, met with the Titans on March 6.

Carter’s bouts with injuries throughout the pre-draft process hasn’t swayed his confidence in becoming the draft’s top selection. Since declaring for the draft in January, Carter has posted a slew of cryptic messages to social media counting down the days before becoming the “#1 overall pick.”

“I feel like I’m the best player in the country and the best player should be selected No. 1,” Carter told reporters at the combine.