Eagles Pro Bowler Jalen Carter ejected before first play of season for appearing to spit on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

This is not how the Eagles wanted to start their season. 

Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected six seconds into Thursday's season opener against the Cowboys after appearing to spit on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.

The incident happened after the opening kickoff that the Cowboys received. Eagles running back Ben VanSumeren was injured on the kickoff, causing a delay before the first play from scrimmage. 

As athletic trainers tended to VanSumeren, the Cowboys' offense and Eagles' defense made their way onto the field. Prescott and Carter got into each other's faces, and Carter appeared to spit directly on Prescott. Officials threw a flag and disqualified Carter for the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. 

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Carter walked off the field with his helmet in hand before the first snap and into the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field. 

The 15-yard penalty gave Dallas first-and-10 at its own 47-yard line. Six plays later, Javonte Williams crossed the goal line to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

Carter is Philadelphia's best defender. He anchored the Eagles' defensive line last season for a dominant unit that helped lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory. A disruptive force in the pass and run game, Carter tallied 4.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, 6 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles in 2024.

His ejection immediately put Philadelphia at a significant disadvantage against a retooled Cowboys offense that's projected to score a lot of points this season. And tensions didn't die down from there. 

More drama before 1st quarter is done

The Eagles responded with a 70-yard touchdown drive of their own to tie the game at 7-7. After the ensuing kickoff, the special teams units took their turn getting into it. 

A scuffle involving multiple players from each team ensued following the tackle on the kickoff return. Multiple flags were thrown before the dust settled. A pair of Cowboys — Marist Liufau and Markquese Bell — drew unnecessary roughness penalties. 

No Eagles were penalized, and there were no ejections this time.

Football is officially back. And so is the bad blood between a pair of longtime NFC East rivals.