Jalen Carter "f***ed up" after Dak Prescott spitting incident in Eagles win over Cowboys in NFL opener

Reigning NFL champions Philadelphia Eagles kicked off the 2025 season with a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but the opener was overshadowed by an unsavoury spitting incident.

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott were seen squaring up to one another in the early exchanges, and footage showed the former spitting onto his opponent's body.

Prescott was also seen spitting in the direction of Carter ahead of the scrimmage, before laughing in the direction of his opposite number, who was then ejected from the Philadelphia field.

Carter's absence did not prove fatal as the 2024 Super Bowl winners emerged victorious, but the 24-year-old expressed his remorse post-match in an X-rated apology, saying: "It was a mistake that happened on my side and it just won't happen again," as quoted by ESPN.

"I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there. I'm doing it for them. ... Not being able to start the game even, finish the game, it f***ed me up but we're going to get it better. It won't happen again. I can make that promise."

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni confirmed that the incident would be dealt with internally, adding: "I want these guys to play with great energy, great tenacity while doing it within the rules of the game.

"So we'll address that. [Carter] knows we needed him out there today, and he wasn't out there against a really good offense."

Eagles start Super Bowl defence with Cowboys win after spitting incident

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

After Carter's expulsion, the first touchdown of the 2025 NFL campaign went the way of the Cowboys, as Javonte Williams's short burst sent the visitors ahead early doors before a Jalen Hurts response.

A carbon copy of the two crucial first-quarter plays then occurred in the second, as Williams and Hurts traded touchdowns again, while Saquon Barkley also registered for Philadelphia in between two Brandon Aubrey field goals.

Leading by a solitary point at half time, the Eagles created some much-needed breathing room in the third quarter courtesy of a 58-yard Jake Elliott field goal, and a scoreless fourth suited the champions down to the ground.

Sirianni's men have over a week to recuperate before a tantalising Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field next Sunday, a few hours after the Cowboys host the New York Giants.

The second game of the 2025 NFL campaign sees the Chiefs tackle the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday evening (1am Saturday morning UK time).