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Jalen Carter ejection: NFL to review Eagles DT spitting on Dak Prescott for additional discipline

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater09/05/25samdg_33
Eagles DL Jalen Carter
Bill Streicher | Imagn Images

Jalen Carter was ejected before the season ever officially started after being tossed from the opener last night for spitting on Dak Prescott. Now, coming out of this incident in the first game of the year before even the first snap, the NFL may have more to say about it.

Per Tom Pelissero at the NFL Network, the National Football League will be reviewing Carter’s spit to determine if a further penalty is needed, specifically a suspension of any kind. That said, Pelissero noted that last night’s ejection did essentially already serve as a one-game suspension with him not actually participating in the 24-20 win last night for the Eagles over the Cowboys.

“The NFL will review last night’s spitting incident for possible additional discipline — standard for acts that lead to disqualification,” Pelissero wrote. “Worth noting #Eagles DT Jalen Carter effectively served a one-game suspension by getting ejected before first snap.”

While the game was paused for an injury at the opening kickoff, Prescott and Carter went face-to-face. At that point, a flag went up. Camera work then showed the reason for it as Carter, the third-year defensive tackle, had spit right at the Cowboys’ quarterback.

Later footage would show that Prescott had previously spat on the ground in his direction, which he said was not meant in the same way. But, nonetheless, it’s about as gross an act as could’ve happened, let alone in the very first moments of the season in the NFL.

So, as far as where we go from here with a suspension, the NFL has several things to consider. On top of just general decency, a big talking point since the spit took place is the league’s emphasis on sportsmanship coming into this season and, with this being anything but, Carter could face a more significant suspension than he may have previously done. However, as Pelissero mentioned, the opener could now technically be taken as the first game of that suspension as he never actually played a down, meaning it could be one game fewer than some may feel is appropriate for something like this.

This was a very poor decision and could’ve been a costly one had the Eagles not won on opening night. That said, the NFL could make it costly moving forward, with Philadelphia having upcoming games against the Kansas City Chiefs, LA Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers this month to begin their season, pending how they assess Carter’s availability following his spitting incident.

Carter explains spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Jalen Carter was ejected from Thursday night’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys for spitting on Dak Prescott. With Dallas’ offense and Philadelphia’s defense on the field, Carter began jawing with Prescott, which is when the spit occurred. An official was right there and immediately flagged Carter for unsportsmanlike conduct in ejecting him from the game.

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, let alone finish, 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.”