What kind of a rivalry would the Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles be if there wasn’t a bit of drama? While it’s never unexpected, it was the manner in which the drama unfolded for the 2025 NFL season opening matchup between the two NFC East teams that left fans league-wide stunned.

Before the first snap of the Cowboys vs. Eagles matchup on Thursday, Sept. 4, trash talk had already ramped up. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter began going back and forth while officials discussed a penalty on the opening kickoff, then a whistle blew, and Carter’s night was over before it even began.

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Carter was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from the game for spitting on Prescott before the two teams even broke the huddle a single time.

Dak Prescott Reveals Details of Conversation With Jalen Carter Before Being Spit On

After a game in which the Eagles went on to win 24-20 following a lightning delay and a brutal second half for both offenses, Prescott offered up details of how the situation transpired with Carter. He also explained the angle of the video that shows him spitting first, in which Prescott admitted he “probably spits 1,000 times throughout the game” and wasn’t aiming at Carter.

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Regarding the incident with the Eagles’ 2023 first-round draft pick, Prescott told reporters the following, according to Cowboys beat writer Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News:

“You trying to spit on me?” Prescott said Carter asked him.

“What would I need to spit on you for?” Prescott replied.

Prescott explained that Carter then spat on him after the brief exchange, leading to the penalty and ejection.

Of course, there are two sides to every story, and it’s certainly a possibility that one or both of the players added a few other NSFW words in during the exchange. It’ll be interesting to see if any other players provide additional context on the situation, but for now, it doesn’t sound like Carter is going to dive too far into the situation.

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Jalen Carter Apologies to His Eagles ’Teammates and Fans’

After Thursday’s game finished, Carter spoke to the media and was asked about the situation leading to the ejection. The 24-year-old Pro Bowler took responsibility and apologized to his teammates and Eagles fans, as ESPN’s Tim McManus revealed.

“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again. I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there, I’m doing it for them,” Carter said.

He doubled down on his initial statement as well, re-stating that it “won’t happen again, I can make that promise,” as well.

While Prescott’s details of the exchange sound straightforward, Carter doesn’t sound likely to push back on how the situation transpired, at least not in the immediate aftermath. It’s unlikely that he’ll be dealt any form of discipline from the NFL for the incident, so he can rest a bit easier now that the Eagles are 1-0 to start the season and that he’ll be back in Week 2 when they face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Related: Reports of Cowboys Locker-Room Tensions With Micah Parsons Before Packers Trade Surface

This story was originally reported by Men’s Journal on Sep 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.