Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field was buzzing with anticipation on Thursday night, the air thick with the energy of a season opener and the echoes of a recent Super Bowl celebration. But just six seconds into the Eagles’ clash with the Dallas Cowboys, the mood shifted dramatically. In a shocking moment that’s already reverberating through the NFL, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott—an incident that has cast a shadow over both Carter’s image and the Eagles’ hard-fought 24-20 victory.
The drama unfolded almost immediately following the Eagles’ pregame festivities honoring their Super Bowl triumph. As the opening kickoff sailed and the teams took the field, Carter and Prescott exchanged words. Then, in a flash, Carter spat on Prescott’s jersey. The act didn’t go unnoticed. Prescott quickly motioned to an official, who wasted no time throwing a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. The referees huddled, and Carter was sent packing—ejected before he’d even played a defensive snap.
“It was more of a surprise than anything,” Prescott told reporters after the game, according to FOX Sports. “The refs obviously saw it. Threw the flag. I was like, ‘Hell yeah! We get 15 yards to start the game off.’ Didn’t realize he was getting ejected. Unfortunate that he did. Hell of a player.”
The 15-yard penalty set up Dallas with prime field position, and they capitalized quickly. Running back Javonte Williams punched in a 1-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys an early lead and raising questions about how the Eagles’ defense would respond without one of its top stars.
For Carter, the moment was a devastating setback in his quest to rebuild his reputation. The 24-year-old, drafted ninth overall by Philadelphia in 2023, has been a force on the field—integral to the Eagles’ Super Bowl run last season. But his journey has been marred by off-field troubles, most notably a misdemeanor reckless driving and racing conviction stemming from a fatal car crash at Georgia that claimed the lives of teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. Carter received 12 months probation, a $1,000 fine, and community service for that incident, which caused his draft stock to tumble.
Since joining the Eagles, Carter has shown flashes of dominance. General manager Howie Roseman praised his impact, saying, “Jalen’s shown how dominating he can be as a player. When you have that guy and when defensive offensive linemen are sliding to that guy, it creates opportunities for the guys playing next to him. You have to count for him. If you’re going to block him one on one, he’s got a great chance to win those matchups. I mean, he’s that kind of player and he’s a special player.”
Yet, questions about Carter’s discipline have lingered. Over his first two seasons, he’s racked up multiple unnecessary roughness penalties and was fined over $17,000 for an open-handed blow in last year’s NFC Championship. He was also benched to start a game against Atlanta for disciplinary reasons. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recently reflected on Carter’s edge, noting, “I don’t know that nastiness is the right word. I just think he has to play with the right mindset to reach his potential, or come close to reaching his potential. He’s just got to be on top of the details, play with great effort, and be focused.”
On Thursday night, focus was fleeting. After the game, Carter faced the media, remorse evident in his voice. “It was a mistake that happened on my side. It won’t happen again,” Carter said. “I feel bad for just my teammates and fans out there. I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for my family, also. But the fans, they showed the most love.” He added, “Just not being able to finish the game, or start the game even, finish the game (is disappointing). It won’t happen again, I promise.”
Prescott, for his part, tried to clarify the sequence of events. “In that case, he was trolling, I guess you could say, trying to mess with [Cowboys RG] Tyler Booker. I was just looking at him. I was right here by the two linemen and I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn’t going to spit on my lineman and I just spit ahead,” Prescott explained. “I would say he was back there and was in that sense and he goes, ‘Are you trying to spit on me?’ At that point, I mean I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn’t spit on somebody. I’m damn sure I’m not trying to spit on you. We’re about to play a game.”
Referee Shawn Smith confirmed the act warranted ejection. “One of the officials observed him spitting on an opponent. It’s a disqualifiable foul in the game. It’s a non-football act,” Smith told a pool reporter.
The fallout could extend beyond the field. The NFL has emphasized sportsmanship this season, and Carter may face further discipline, possibly even a suspension. The Irving Police Department in Texas weighed in via social media, noting that spitting on someone is considered assault under state law, a Class C misdemeanor. While league discipline remains pending, Carter’s actions have certainly drawn the ire of both fans and league officials.
Inside the Eagles’ locker room, reactions ranged from disappointment to support. Head coach Nick Sirianni kept his comments measured but direct: “I’m going to keep all our conversations and all my disciplinary things in-house, but we have to fix it as coaches. You see how I coach with emotion, and I want them to play with emotion, and that’s what I kind of say all the time is you have to do it within the rules of the game. We need everybody out there to help us be successful.”
Veteran right tackle Lane Johnson observed, “You can tell he’s devastated, but it’ll be a lesson learned for him. We missed him out there today. Yeah, man, it’s one of those things, but I was proud of how the guys responded, and JC was in here at halftime to coach the guys up, doing his part.”
Despite the early adversity, the Eagles rallied. Backup linemen Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis played 90% and 87% of defensive snaps, respectively, helping to plug the gap left by Carter’s absence. The Cowboys managed 119 rushing yards, but the Eagles’ defense stiffened in the second half, holding Dallas scoreless on four straight possessions to secure the win.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who led the Eagles’ comeback, offered a broader perspective: “There’s a sense of accountability and everything, and I know he’s done that, and so it’s just something that we all can learn from, right? An unwise man will make a mistake and not look back on it and learn from it. So you have to look at those things and be able to take something away from it and we will.”
As the Eagles celebrate a season-opening victory, the spotlight remains fixed on Jalen Carter—his future with the team, his standing in the league, and his ongoing journey to prove that his talent can outshine his mistakes. For now, Philadelphia’s resilience shines through, but Carter’s margin for error has all but vanished.
