diff --git a/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime.go b/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime.go
index 93cd28b93..5fa33d21a 100644
--- a/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime.go
+++ b/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime.go
@@ -31,16 +31,25 @@ import (
 	podutil "sigs.k8s.io/descheduler/pkg/descheduler/pod"
 )
 
+var (
+	podLifetimeAllowedPhases = sets.NewString(
+		string(v1.PodRunning),
+		string(v1.PodPending),
+
+		// Container state reason list: https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/blob/release-1.24/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods.go#L76-L79
+		"PodInitializing",
+		"ContainerCreating",
+	)
+)
+
 func validatePodLifeTimeParams(params *api.StrategyParameters) error {
 	if params == nil || params.PodLifeTime == nil || params.PodLifeTime.MaxPodLifeTimeSeconds == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("MaxPodLifeTimeSeconds not set")
 	}
 
 	if params.PodLifeTime.PodStatusPhases != nil {
-		for _, phase := range params.PodLifeTime.PodStatusPhases {
-			if phase != string(v1.PodPending) && phase != string(v1.PodRunning) {
-				return fmt.Errorf("only Pending and Running phases are supported in PodLifeTime")
-			}
+		if !podLifetimeAllowedPhases.HasAll(params.PodLifeTime.PodStatusPhases...) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("PodStatusPhases must be one of %v", podLifetimeAllowedPhases.List())
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -75,7 +84,14 @@ func PodLifeTime(ctx context.Context, client clientset.Interface, strategy api.D
 				if string(pod.Status.Phase) == phase {
 					return evictorFilter.Filter(pod)
 				}
+
+				for _, containerStatus := range pod.Status.ContainerStatuses {
+					if containerStatus.State.Waiting != nil && containerStatus.State.Waiting.Reason == phase {
+						return evictable.IsEvictable(pod)
+					}
+				}
 			}
+
 			return false
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime_test.go b/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime_test.go
index b3998b919..e8a01ea79 100644
--- a/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime_test.go
+++ b/pkg/descheduler/strategies/pod_lifetime_test.go
@@ -197,7 +197,61 @@ func TestPodLifeTime(t *testing.T) {
 			expectedEvictedPodCount: 0,
 		},
 		{
-			description: "Two old pods with different status phases. 1 should be evicted.",
+			description: "Two pods, one with ContainerCreating state. 1 should be evicted.",
+			strategy: api.DeschedulerStrategy{
+				Enabled: true,
+				Params: &api.StrategyParameters{
+					PodLifeTime: &api.PodLifeTime{
+						MaxPodLifeTimeSeconds: &maxLifeTime,
+						PodStatusPhases:       []string{"ContainerCreating"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				p9,
+				test.BuildTestPod("container-creating-stuck", 0, 0, node1.Name, func(pod *v1.Pod) {
+					pod.Status.ContainerStatuses = []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						{
+							State: v1.ContainerState{
+								Waiting: &v1.ContainerStateWaiting{Reason: "ContainerCreating"},
+							},
+						},
+					}
+					pod.OwnerReferences = ownerRef1
+				}),
+			},
+			nodes:                   []*v1.Node{node1},
+			expectedEvictedPodCount: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			description: "Two pods, one with PodInitializing state. 1 should be evicted.",
+			strategy: api.DeschedulerStrategy{
+				Enabled: true,
+				Params: &api.StrategyParameters{
+					PodLifeTime: &api.PodLifeTime{
+						MaxPodLifeTimeSeconds: &maxLifeTime,
+						PodStatusPhases:       []string{"PodInitializing"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			pods: []*v1.Pod{
+				p9,
+				test.BuildTestPod("pod-initializing-stuck", 0, 0, node1.Name, func(pod *v1.Pod) {
+					pod.Status.ContainerStatuses = []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						{
+							State: v1.ContainerState{
+								Waiting: &v1.ContainerStateWaiting{Reason: "PodInitializing"},
+							},
+						},
+					}
+					pod.OwnerReferences = ownerRef1
+				}),
+			},
+			nodes:                   []*v1.Node{node1},
+			expectedEvictedPodCount: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			description: "Two old pods with different states. 1 should be evicted.",
 			strategy: api.DeschedulerStrategy{
 				Enabled: true,
 				Params: &api.StrategyParameters{