Jalen Carter Takes Responsibility For Dak Prescott Spiting Incident: ‘It Won’t Happen Again’

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter made headlines in the opening game of the 2025 NFL season after he was ejected for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

The 2023 first-round pick was thrown out of the game before a snap could be made. Cameras showed Carter spitting in the direction of the Cowboys quarterback, causing him to receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ejection from the game.

In his postgame interview, after the Eagles went on to win 24-20, Carter apologized and took the blame for his first-quarter penalty.

“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said. “I feel bad, just for my teammates and the fans out there. It won’t happen again. I made that promise.”

Later in the game, new camera angles revealed Prescott appearing to spit in the direction of Carter.

While Carter did not disclose what made him spit on Prescott, the Cowboys quarterback explained his view of the incident.

“(H)e was trolling, I guess you could say, trying to mess with Tyler Booker,” Prescott said. “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.

“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.”

Prescott added it was a “surprise” when Carter decided to spit on him.

The opening game of the season offered no shortage of action. The Cowboys took the lead three times in the first half, only for the Eagles to reply on all occasions. In the third quarter, the game halted for over an hour due to lightning. The game resumed at 11:30 p.m. local time, where the reigning Super Bowl champions went on to claim their first win of the season.