In one of the strangest starts to an NFL season in recent memory, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected after he spit on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after the opening kickoff.
First, Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury while covering the opening kickoff, leading to an injury timeout. During the stoppage in play, Carter, for some reason, walked up to Prescott, presumably exchanged some words with the Cowboys signal-caller, then inexplicably spit on him.
Carter, a Pro Bowl selection for the first time in 2024, was then ejected from the game, to the shock of NFL fans and pundits.
Eagles top defensive player Jalen Carter just got thrown out of the game for spitting on Dak Prescott pic.twitter.com/gja6A6vADt
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 5, 2025
Here are some of the best reactions.
WTH did I just see? Jalen Carter — the Best Players on the @Eagles defense — just got thrown out the game before a freakin snap for SPITTING….SPITTING on @dak. To hell with just an ejection. Suspend that man. How in the HELL could you do something like that? Inexcusable! Stupid!…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) September 5, 2025
I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever seen something more bizarre/out of absolutely nowhere than that.
The game just started! No one has done anything to anyone… and your team’s best defensive player just walks over to the opposing quarterback and spits on him!!!
Maniac behavior!
— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 5, 2025
Jalen Carter in the locker room after getting ejected for spitting on Dak: pic.twitter.com/5eqTO4RNUQ
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) September 5, 2025
U can say whatever u want to me but when u spit on me we throwing hands. The most disrespectful thing u can do from one man to another
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) September 5, 2025
Non-contact injury on the opening kick and a player ejected for spitting. The NFL has never been so back.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 5, 2025
Your best defensive player cant get ejected for spitting if u trade him before the season starts pic.twitter.com/XQLKfUMozg
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) September 5, 2025
Not many fans will remember ever seeing a potentially season-ending injury on the first play of the game. But nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever seen an NFL player spit on an opponent and get shown the door before even playing a snap. It's safe to see this will be talked about for quite some time.
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