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Jalen Carter ejection: Cris Collinsworth says Eagles DL to blame 'if they lose' to Cowboys

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes09/05/25NickGeddesNews
Jalen Carter
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Jalen Carter‘s Week 1 started and ended quickly. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman was ejected before the first play of scrimmage in Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott.

The loss of Carter is massive for Philadelphia’s defense. NBC‘s Cris Collinsworth went as far to say in the booth that if the Eagles lose the game, “it will be because [of] Jalen Carter.”

“Jalen Carter is one of my favorite players. I think you know that,” Collinsworth said. “That was one of the most ridiculous things. You just might as well have spit in the face of your entire football team, head coach and everybody involved in the organization. If they lose this game tonight, it will be because Jalen Carter did that before he even played one snap in this game.”

The ejection came after Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren was injured on the opening kickoff. With Dallas’ offense and Philadelphia’s defense on the field, Carter began jawing with Prescott. At the end of their exchange, Carter spit on Prescott. The referee was right there and immediately flagged Carter for unsportsmanlike conduct before ejecting him from the game.

Jalen Carter made a huge mistake before the game really began

So far, the Cowboys have taken advantage of Carter’s absence. Running back Javonte Williams has 38 rushing yards and two scores on nine carries. Prescott is off to an efficient start, and Dallas is more than holding its own against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

There’s still plenty of game to go. We’ll see if Philadelphia can turn it around on defense without Carter, arguably its best defensive player.

Carter, the third-year pro, is coming off a season in which he made his first Pro Bowl and finished 12th in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting. Carter compiled 42 tackles (25 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. He was dominant throughout Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run, recording nine tackles (three solo) and two sacks.

The Eagles have just four remaining active interior defensive linemen: Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Gabe Hall and Byron Young. Davis and Ojomo each saw more than 85 percent of the snaps in the first half.