Star player ejected before first snap in BIZARRE Cowboys-Eagles opener

The much-anticipated NFL season opener between the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys got off to a wild start when Eagles star defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected before the first snap.

Carter is seen on video walking up to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the opening snap and spitting on his chest — considered by many as perhaps the best defensive player for the Eagles, Carter received an unsportsmanlike penalty and was ejected.

Don’t believe your lying eyes, though. Left-wing sports network ESPN shared the video, reporting that Carter was ejected “after appearing to spit at” Prescott.

Jalen Carter was ejected from the Eagles’ season opener after appearing to spit at Dak Prescott.

( NBC) pic.twitter.com/HbETVk1ALd

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 5, 2025

“Whoa, whoa,” NBC play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico said of the incident. “First of all, I got no idea what he’s thinking, and second, this is massive in terms of the game.”

“He’s the best player they have on their defense and about 80 percent of what we were gonna talk about on this broadcast,” NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth commented. “Because to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, you have to double-team Jalen Carter. If you don’t, you don’t get your offense started. Now you take off that one player on the defense that you had to focus your attention on, and it’s almost like Micah Parsons now gone from the Cowboys — same impact now with Jalen Carter gone.”

The hashtag #spitgate began trending online after the video surfaced of Prescott spitting first — despite a deceptive angle widely shared, the Cowboys quarterback spit toward the ground while looking at Carter, who was several yards away at the time.

WE HAVE A SECOND SPITTER pic.twitter.com/suDkYKAlJH

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 5, 2025

The Cowboys’ star QB said after the game that Carter was trying to “troll” rookie Cowboys guard Tyler Booker, who would be lining up against him for the first time.

“I probably spit 1,000 times throughout the game,” Prescott said, insisting he wasn’t aiming for Carter, who he said then asked him, “You trying to spit on me?”

“What would I need to spit on you for?” Prescott said he responded, which is when Carter spat on him.

Dak Prescott on Spitgate. Says Jalen Carter was messing with Tyler Booker. “I guess I needed to spit. I wasn’t going to spit on my linemen. I just spit ahead.” Says he felt insulted Carter suggested he tried to spit on him. pic.twitter.com/zJcWmX4ob0

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 5, 2025

Carter acknowledged after the game, which the Super Bowl champions barely won, 24-20, that it was a mistake to spit on Prescott. He vowed it wouldn’t happen again and said he felt bad for his teammates and the fans.

Jalen Carter says spitting on Dak and being ejected was a mistake that won’t happen again

Says he feels bad for his teammates and fans pic.twitter.com/6zUTEOPb8d

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) September 5, 2025

Former Eagles center Jason Kelce jumped on the misleading video of Prescott spitting to suggest Carter’s disgusting action may have been warranted:

And the truth shall set you free https://t.co/VqWuYddxm6

— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) September 5, 2025

He got an assist from shill Yahoo Sports reporter Jori Epstein, who wrote: “Broadcast shows Dak spit first, albeit down, before seeming to nod toward Jalen Carter. Then Dak and Jalen walked toward each other, after which Jalen spit toward Dak. Direction and proximity spitting seems to be the officiating distinction here.”

Broadcast shows Dak spit first, albeit down, before seeming to nod toward Jalen Carter. Then Dak and Jalen walked toward each other, after which Jalen spit toward Dak.

Direction and proximity spitting seems to be the officiating distinction here.pic.twitter.com/OGqQwjJzCb

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 5, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
[email protected]

The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

Latest posts by Tom Tillison (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.