Eagles vs. Cowboys was marred by ‘spitgate’ and torrential rain
USA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaca breaks down the Eagles 24-20 victory over the Cowboys.
Sports Seriously
The 2025 NFL season got off to an explosive – and wet – start.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles managed to score on every possession in the first half, but before either team took a snap from scrimmage, Jalen Carter was ejected.
As the Cowboys offense and the Eagles defense took the field following the opening kickoff, Carter approached Dallas QB Dak Prescott and spat on the quarterback.
Philadelphia’s star defensive tackle was ejected from the remainder of the game, and the Eagles were tasked to play without arguably their best defensive player.
Carter’s absence was noticeable in the first half as Cowboys running back Javonte Williams managed to rush for two touchdowns.
Some NFL fans are wondering if Carter will be suspended for his actions. Here’s a look back at similar situations in NFL history.
Carter will not be suspended for the spitting incident in Week 1, a league official told USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell. The official was granted anonymity because the NFL is still examining the situation.
With a suspension being off the table for Carter, the next question is whether he’ll face a fine.
It was unclear whether Carter would face suspension following the NFL’s emphasis on sportsmanship this season, but based on previous instances where a player spat on another, it was unlikely that Carter would have faced a suspension.
The Eagles star owned up to his misstep following the game.
“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said. “I feel bad, just for my teammates and the fans out there.”
“It won’t happen again. I made that promise.”
Carter, who apologized to teammates, was described as “remorseful” after the game by Jordan Mailata. He didn’t say whether his actions were in retaliation to Prescott’s – who gave his own account of the incident.
“(H)e was trolling, I guess you could say, trying to mess with Tyler Booker,” Prescott said. “I was just looking at him. I was right here by the two linemen, and I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn’t going to spit on my lineman and I just spit ahead. … And he goes, ‘Are you trying to spit on me?’”
It was unclear which way the NFL would rule on the case, especially with a new point of emphasis related to respect for an opponent, but history was on Carter’s side.
In 2020, then-Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marcus Peters was fined for spitting on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry, but not suspended.
In 2006, Terrell Owens faced a similar situation and was fined but not suspended for his actions when he spat on Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall. Owens was fined $35,000 for spitting, but wasn’t ejected from the game because the officials were unaware that the incident had occurred.
Additionally, the late Sean Taylor had a similar experience in Washington; he received a fine of $17,000 but was not suspended.
It’s important to note that the latter two situations are nearly decades-old. This offseason, the league discussed the importance of “respect for the opponent,” which is a point of emphasis for officials this season.
Still, a precedent for a suspension for spitting does not exist, and Carter won’t be the first case study for the matter.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: Your complete guide to NFL Week 1.