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Jalen Carter ejection: Eagles DT explains spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Danby: Daniel Hager09/05/25DanielHagerOn3
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© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected from Thursday night’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott. Carter’s ejection came before the first play of scrimmage.

Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren was injured on the opening kickoff, leaving both teams just standing around before the first snap of the game. 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. An official was right there and immediately flagged Carter for unsportsmanlike conduct before ejecting him from the game.

The ejection came as a huge blow to Philadelphia’s defense, as its best defensive player did not even play a snap. Dallas actually out-gained the Eagles 307-302 due to Carter’s absence, but Philadelphia was able to eek out the 24-20 win on banner night.

Carter addressed the situation postgame. He reiterated twice that it would not happen again and revealed that it made him feel awful to not even start the game.

“It was a mistake that happened on my side and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said. “Not being able to start the game even, finish the game, it f****d me up but we’re going to get it better. It won’t happen again.”

Postgame, Prescott spoke with NBC analyst Jason Garrett about the incident. Dallas’ QB1 told Garrett that he spit over teammate Tyler Booker‘s shoulder while they were in the offensive huddle. Carter thought Prescott spit at him, and he responded by spitting on Prescott.

“I talked to Dak as he was coming off the field after the game,” Garrett said. “Dak said he was talking to Tyler Booker, and he had to spit. So, he spit over Booker’s shoulder. I guess Jalen Carter was looking at him and he came over and he said, ‘Are you spitting at me?’ Then Dak said, ‘Why would I spit at you?’ He [Carter] got closer, and he spit back at him. I guess it was a misunderstanding.”

Could Jalen Carter face a suspension for spitting on Dak Prescott?

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Carter could face a suspension for the incident. The weather delay in the third quarter provided a chance for the NBC crew to chime in on the incident. Rodney Harrison called Carter’s actions “selfish.”

“I was really disappointed with him,” Harrison said. “He has to understand how important he is to that team. They’ve lost a bunch of guys, so he’s the best player on that defense. And I just thought it was very selfish and very disrespectful to spit in Dak’s face.”

Tony Dungy added his perspective on a personal level. Morally and as a teammate.

“I don’t know how you can do that as a man, first of all,” Dungy said. “But then to let your teammates down, that’s unspeakable.”

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.