Moments before the NFL’s 2025 season kicked off in Philadelphia on Thursday night, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts asked his teammates for “discipline and focus.” Then Philadelphia Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter got ejected for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the ball had been snapped.
The Eagles weathered that storm, 110 yards in penalties and a 65-minute lightning delay in the third quarter that zapped the offense out of the game to post a 24-20 victory in the renewal of an NFC East rivalry.
The first eight series of the game resulted in points. And it looked as though it would be nine in a row after the Cowboys got a first down at the Philadelphia 11-yard line.
But Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell, a first-round pick from Alabama playing in his first NFL game, caused Dallas running back Miles Sanders to fumble, and Philadelphia recovered the loose football with 4:44 left in the third quarter to preserve the Eagles’ four-point lead.
It would be one hour and five minutes before the football was snapped again because of the weather delay.
Campbell started at linebacker for Philadelphia. He made three tackles and broke up one pass in addition to this forced fumble.
Hurts matched 1-yard touchdown runs by Dallas running back Javonte Williams with TD runs of 4 yards with 5:55 left in the first quarter and 6:46 left in the first half. With 16 games with at least two rushing touchdowns, the former Alabama standout has four more such games than any other quarterback in NFL history.
Hurts finished with 62 yards on 14 carries while completing 19-of-23 passes for 152 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
In addition to Campbell and Hurts, 15 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in Thursday night’s game:
Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) made three tackles in his first game with Philadelphia.
Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship made three tackles.
Tyler Booker (Alabama) started at right guard for the Cowboys in his first NFL game. Booker joined Dallas as the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 24.
Cowboys cornerback Trikweze Bridges (Lanett) did not record any stats in his first NFL game. Bridges was a seventh-round pick in the NFL Draft on April 26.
Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles. Dickerson left the game for the locker room in the fourth quarter.
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama) made one tackle after missing almost all the offseason program, training camp and the preseason while recovering from knee surgery.
Cowboys tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cowboys wide receiver Traeshon Holden (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (Faith Academy) was designated as a game-day inactive. James was a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft on April 26.
Eagles tight end Cameron Latu (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cowboys cornerback Christian Matthew (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Eagles cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB) did not record any stats in his first NFL game. McWilliams was a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft on April 26.
Eagles wide receiver John Metchie III (Alabama) returned a kickoff 20 yards and made one tackle on special teams.
George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Pickens had three receptions for 30 yards in his first game with Dallas.
Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had three receptions for 16 yards.
Tyler Steen (Alabama) started at right guard for the Eagles.
Cowboys defensive back Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) did not record any stats in his first game with Dallas.
Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Tolbert had one reception that netted zero yards and a 20-yard kickoff return.
Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) started at defensive end for the Cowboys. In his first NFL start after missing the 2024 season because of a knee injury, Williams reached a career high with five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) made one tackle after not playing in a game during the 2024 season.
Philadelphia plays the Kansas City Chiefs at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
In its next game, Dallas plays the New York Giants at noon Sept. 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert returns a kickoff during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert returns a kickoff during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith holds on to the football for a reception during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith holds on to the football for a reception during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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