It turned out to be quite a misunderstanding.
Jalen Carter, the standout defensive tackle for the Eagles, was ejected early in the NFL season opener, but the context was a bit more complicated than it seemed.
After NBC aired a clip showing Dak Prescott spitting first, Jason Garrett, a former Cowboys coach and NBC analyst, noted during the post-game that Carter mistook Prescott’s action as a prelude to the game before the Eagles’ 24-20 win in Philadelphia.
Prescott explained to Garrett that he needed to spit while chatting with Dallas offensive lineman Tyler Booker, and Carter was nearby when this happened.
“Why would you spit at me?” Carter asked Prescott.
Prescott smiled, and when Carter wondered, “Why am I spitting at you?” things escalated quickly leading to Carter’s ejection not long after the kickoff.
“I actually said ‘Why hell’—sorry, maybe I used a bit more colorful language. When he spat at me, I was just taken aback,” Prescott stated, reflecting on the incident.
Afterward, Carter expressed his remorse to his teammates.
“It was a mistake on my part. It won’t happen again,” he commented, sharing his feelings with the Associated Press. “I feel badly for my teammates and the fans, who support us immensely. I want to do right by them.”
It’s still uncertain if further consequences await Carter following this incident.
“We’re all pumped to kick off the season, and this situation is unfortunate,” someone remarked regarding the affair.
Some are suggesting that Carter might face a suspension for multiple games because of this.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reacted by tweeting, “Just ejected and sent off. How can you act like that? Totally unacceptable!”
Mike Florio remarked on the potential repercussions stemming from how Carter handled the situation post-game, hinting that if he doesn’t seem truly contrite, the league could opt for a stronger reaction than just a one-game suspension.
Carter did express regret after the game, but the possibility of further action remains open.
The Cowboys will have a mini-break before facing the Giants on September 14th.
