Jalen Carter is likely to assume his usual place on the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line beginning with Week 2.
The Eagles star lineman Carter will not be suspended for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just seconds into this week’s 2025 season opener, Jarrett Bell of USA Today reported on Saturday. The NFL is still examining the situation, but a suspension is not on the table for Carter, Bell says.
First, it's important to note that Carter's incident is far from the first spitting problem in sports history.
Carter was ejected from Thursday’s Week 1 game against the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for spitting on Prescott. The incident occurred just six seconds into the game (after the opening kickoff and before the first official snap). The 2024 NFL All-Pro selection, Carter, was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the spit and got ejected on the spot.
Jalen Carter was ejected from the Eagles’ season opener after appearing to spit at Dak Prescott.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 5, 2025
( NBC) pic.twitter.com/HbETVk1ALd
Philadelphia went on to defeat Dallas by a 24-20 final score. After the game, clips circulated online showing that Prescott had seemingly spat first (though not directly at Carter). Prescott himself also appeared to admit as much.
The 24-year-old Carter has since spoken out on the incident, offering an apology and saying that it was a “mistake” to spit on Prescott. With Carter already having effectively gotten “suspended” from Week 1 by getting thrown out so early, he may only be facing a fine from the NFL from here. The Eagles play in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14, and Carter officially appears to have the all-clear for that game and beyond.
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