Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has been fined $57,222 by the NFL for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the season opener. The league considered the incident a one-game suspension with time served, as Carter was ejected from the game and did not play a snap in the Eagles' 24-20 victory. He is expected to be available for the upcoming Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The incident occurred shortly after the Eagles raised their Super Bowl banner. Prescott had stepped into the huddle and, according to reports, his saliva landed near Carter after he spat on the ground. Carter then spat on Prescott's jersey, prompting Prescott to alert an official, who threw a flag. Carter was disqualified before the game's first snap.
Carter apologised for his actions, stating, 'It was a mistake that happened on my side. It won’t happen again.' Prescott denied any intentional provocation, saying, 'I wouldn’t spit on somebody. We’re about to play a game.'
The fine comes amid a pattern of disciplinary issues for Carter. Last season, he was penalised three times for unnecessary roughness and was benched for a game by head coach Nick Sirianni. He was also fined $17,445 for striking Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz in the NFC championship game. Sirianni confirmed that internal discipline would remain private.
Carter's off-field history includes a role in a fatal car crash during his college days at Georgia, which led to misdemeanour charges for reckless driving and racing. He received one year of probation and a $1,000 fine. Several teams passed on him in the 2023 draft due to the incident, allowing the Eagles to select him with the ninth overall pick.
