NFL Insider Breaks Down Why the NFL Could Suspend Jalen Carter

Stephen Douglas | Sep 5, 2025

Big Dom escorted Jalen Carter to the locker room after his ejection on Thursday night. / Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated

The main topic of conversation the day after the season kicked off with a close divisional game between the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the most popular sports team in the world, the Dallas Cowboys, is a player getting ejected for spitting on an opponent during the first huddle of the game.

The NFL must be thrilled, especially considering they're really into good sportsmanship this season.

On the NFL Network, Tom Pelissero talked about how the league might handle the incident and whether Jalen Carter, the spitter in question who effectively served a one-game suspension by getting kicked out seconds into the game, could miss more time.

More from @gmfb on the NFL reviewing last night’s spitting incident for potential additional discipline against #Eagles DT Jalen Carter, and why #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is unlikely to face any for his role. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/BWbZnLotNc

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 5, 2025

"Generally, if you're going back historically, the NFL, in terms of additional discipline has handled spitting incidents with fines, not suspensions," said Pelissero. "Also worth noting that there has been a lot of discussion about the NFL's emphasis on unsportsmanlike conduct and wanting players to show respect for each other."

Pelissero also mentioned the NFL is emphasizing sportsmanship this season, though spitting on someone would have also been ejection-worth in previous years.

As for Dak Prescott, who was not the second-spitter, but the first, there won't be any punishment because "There is no rule against spitting in the general direction of someone from a significant distance."

Now we wait.

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