The NFL took its sweet time, but the punishment for Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has finally been handed down for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 1.
The NFL’s punishment for Carter, widely thought of as one of the game’s dominant defensive players, wasn’t a suspension but instead a $57,000 fine. The NFL also said being ejected so early in the game served as a one-game suspension, essentially.
After Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren sat on the field with an injury following the opening kickoff, Carter walked up to Prescott, the NFL’s highest paid player, and after a brief exchange spit on Prescott’s chest. Carter was immediately ejected from the game — just 6 seconds into the regular season.
Just moments before, cameras showed Prescott spitting in the general direction of Carter but at the ground.
Carter was a first round pick (No. 9 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft and earned NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the first time last season as he helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory.
The Eagles travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 2 rematch of Super Bowl LIX in February — a 40-22 Eagles victory.
NFL is fining Eagles DT Jalen Carter $57,222 for spitting on Dak Prescott,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “The league also says the game he was ejected for will serve as a one-game suspension. After talking to the Eagles, the NFL and the NFLPA, Jalen has decided not to appeal and focus on the Chiefs game,’ said Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus … Jalen Carter makes $57,222 per week, which is how the NFL arrived at the fine it did.
Carter’s Contract Could Exceed Micah Parsons
Carter is in line to become perhaps the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history following the 2025 season when he’s eligible for a contract extension for the first time.
In all likelihood a deal for Carter might look like a 4-year, $200 million contract extension — money that would exceed even the 4-year, $188 million extension signed by Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons after he was traded from the Cowboys on August 28.
Fans React To Carter’s Punishment On Social Media
Reaction to Carter’s fine was swift on social media and the rest of the internet as fans waited almost 5 days to get the news — the Eagles played Thursday night and the punishment wasn’t announced until Tuesday afternoon.
“NFL making it up as it goes along for Eagles DT Jalen Carter,” The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin wrote on his official X account. Since he didn’t play a snap last week before getting ejected for spitting, the NFL docked his game check and considers it his 1-game suspension, allowing him to play Sunday vs Chiefs.
“They fined Jalen Carter 60k for spitting on Dak is insane lmao wonder what they would’ve charged if it was as Tom Brady,” NFL fan Puchi Ortiz wrote on X.
Others attributed the non-suspension to a higher power.
“No suspension for Jalen Carter,” Eagles fan Sean Archer wrote on X. “God is good.”
NFL Makes Final Decision on Eagles All-Pro DT Jalen Carter