Jalen Carter Ejected Before First Snap After Clash With Dak Prescott
The 2025 NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys was expected to be intense, but nobody predicted the drama that unfolded just moments into the game. Before a single snap of defensive football had even been played, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from the contest in shocking fashion.
Here’s how it all went down. The Cowboys had received the opening kickoff, and during the play, Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren went down with an injury that required immediate attention. While trainers were on the field attending to him, both teams were gathered—Dallas preparing to start their first drive, Philadelphia organizing their defense. It was during this unexpected pause that tensions boiled over.
Cameras and replay later showed Carter walking up to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The two got face-to-face, exchanging words. Then, in a move that stunned players, coaches, and fans alike, Carter spit directly at Prescott. Officials, who were standing nearby, saw the act clearly. A flag for unsportsmanlike conduct was thrown immediately, and without hesitation, Carter was ejected from the game before he had played a single defensive down.
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The penalty handed the Cowboys excellent field position. Starting near midfield, Dallas wasted no time capitalizing on the emotional swing. Just six plays later, running back Javonte Williams powered into the end zone for the first touchdown of the night. For Philadelphia, the sequence was a gut punch—not only had their opponent jumped ahead early, but their Pro Bowl defensive star was lost for the entire game.
Carter, just 23 years old and entering his third season in the league, was expected to be a cornerstone of the Eagles’ defense this year. Drafted ninth overall in 2023, he had already established himself as one of the most dominant young defensive tackles in the NFL. Coming off a Pro Bowl campaign, he was seen as essential to Philadelphia’s hopes of making another championship run. Instead, his night ended before it had truly begun, leaving teammates and coaches scrambling to adjust.
The Lincoln Financial Field crowd, which had just moments earlier been electric as the Super Bowl banner was raised, fell into stunned silence. What should have been a celebration quickly turned into frustration and disbelief. Losing a key player so early, and in such a controversial way, shifted the energy of the stadium dramatically.
For the Cowboys, meanwhile, the incident gave them an early boost in confidence. Prescott stayed composed, directing his team to that opening score, and Dallas fed off the momentum.
The season opener is usually about setting the tone for the months ahead. Instead, the Eagles found themselves making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Carter’s ejection will almost certainly be a topic of conversation across the league—not just because of what it meant in this game, but also for what it says about composure, discipline, and the fine line between intensity and misconduct in professional football.
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