Eagles Star Jalen Carter Gets Ejected Moments Into Season Opener Over Spitting Incident

Carter was tossed six seconds into Thursday night time’s NFL season opener for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Eagles had been hit with a 15-yard penalty earlier than the primary snap from scrimmage, and the Cowboys scored on the opening drive on Javonte Williams’ 1-yard landing run.

Prescott and Carter exchanged phrases after the opening kickoff, and Carter spit on Prescott’s jersey earlier than backing away. Prescott shortly motioned to a close-by official who threw the flag and despatched Carter packing. Followers booed as Carter walked off slowly, holding his helmet in his palms behind his again.

“One of many officers noticed him spitting on an opponent,” referee Shawn Smith advised a pool reporter. “It’s a disqualifiable foul within the recreation. It’s a non-football act.”

The Eagles took Carter out of Georgia with the No. 9 general decide within the 2023 draft.

The 24-year-old Carter has shortly blossomed into one of many high defensive lineman and performed a key function in serving to the Eagles win the Tremendous Bowl final season.

Simply this week, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio praised the sting Carter dropped at the unit.

“I don’t know that nastiness is the proper phrase,” Fangio mentioned. “I simply assume he has to play with the proper mindset to achieve his potential, or come near reaching his potential. He’s simply obtained to be on high of the small print, play with nice effort, and be centered.”

He couldn’t keep centered lengthy sufficient within the opener to take a defensive snap.

Carter’s inventory within the 2023 draft slid due to his function in a deadly automobile crash in school that killed a teammate, offensive lineman Devin Willock, and a Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy.

Carter was given one 12 months of probation and fined $1,000 after pleading no contest to misdemeanor costs of reckless driving and racing associated to the wreck.

The Eagles felt that they had the proper veteran management and the skilled sort of surroundings that might assist him thrive and put off-field points behind him.

Eagles normal supervisor Howie Roseman mentioned throughout coaching camp final month that Carter had developed right into a drive.

“Jalen’s proven how dominating he might be as a participant,” he mentioned. “When you could have that man and when defensive offensive linemen are sliding to that man, it creates alternatives for the fellows enjoying subsequent to him. You need to depend for him. In case you’re going to dam him one on one, he’s obtained an incredible probability to win these matchups. I imply, he’s that sort of participant and he’s a particular participant.”