WATCH: Eagles star ejected before first play for incident with Dak Prescott
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from the season opener Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys before either team took an offensive snap.
Carter, who made the Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro last season, was ejected after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the replay seemingly showed him spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after the two had an exchange of words following the opening kickoff.
The Cowboys made the Eagles pay on their first drive of the season once Carter was ejected, going down the field with ease on a six-play, 53-yard touchdown drive capped by a Javonte Williams 1-yard run.
Head referee Shawn Smith explained the ejection in a pool report:
“One of the officials observed [Carter] spitting on an opponent,” he said. “... It’s a disqualifiable foul in the game. It’s a non-football act.”
Another video emerged that showed that Prescott spit on the ground in Carter’s direction first, but Carter then spit on Prescott’s chest, drawing the ejection.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM.
