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Jalen Carter ejection: Stephen A. Smith rips Eagles star for spitting on Dak Prescott, calls for suspension

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz09/05/25NickSchultz_7
jalen carter Eagles
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Before the first snap of Thursday’s NFL season opener, Jalen Carter was ejected. The Philadelphia Eagles star appeared to spit on Dak Prescott, leading to his ejection ahead of the opening play of the game.

Reaction poured in from across the football world on social media. That includes ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who called for a suspension for Carter after the incident.

Smith ripped the former Georgia star for spitting on Prescott after the opening kickoff. He then said an ejection wasn’t enough, saying Carter should face a suspension for his actions.

“WTH did I just see?” Smith wrote on X. “Jalen Carter — the Best Players on the @Eagles defense — just got thrown out the game before a freakin snap for SPITTING….SPITTING on @dak. To hell with just an ejection. Suspend that man. How in the HELL could you do something like that? Inexcusable! Stupid!”

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported Carter could, in fact, face a suspension for Thursday’s incident. The biggest factor, according to Florio, could be how Carter handles things postgame.

“One factor will be, we’re told, the manner in which Carter handles the situation after the game,” Florio wrote. “If he’s anything other than fully contrite, the league may decide to send a message stronger than the de facto one-game suspension Carter received by being sent to the showers without playing a single play.”

Carter’s ejection proved to be pivotal for the Eagles as the defense had an up-and-down first half en route to a 21-20 lead at halftime. Philadelphia had a hard time containing the Cowboys run game, particularly in the red zone as Javonte Williams recorded two first-half touchdowns.

Should the Eagles wind up losing the game, NBC’s Cris Collinsworth pointed to Carter’s departure as a turning point. He said that would be a huge reason for a loss, should Dallas come back to win.

“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.”