The NFL has suspended Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter for one game after he spat on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first game of the season. However, the league is counting that matchup as the game in which he was suspended.
The incident occurred during the opening kickoff of the Week 1 matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles, in which Carter was ejected before the first play from scrimmage for spitting on Prescott.
This incident occurred after Prescott spat on the ground just outside the Cowboys’ huddle, with Carter seemingly believing that the quarterback had spat in his direction.
The NFL has decided that Carter’s actions warrant a single-game suspension, adding that this punishment has already been handled, as the defensive tackle was ejected from the game.
“Because Carter was disqualified before participating in a single play, the suspension is considered to have been served in Week 1 and he will forfeit his game check,” wrote the NFL in a statement.
“The NFL Players Association has informed the NFL that Carter will not contest the discipline and has waived his right to appeal.”
This suspension includes Carter forfeiting his game salary from this matchup, meaning that the defensive tackle will lose a total of $57,222.
Additionally, Carter will now be available for the Eagles’ Week 2 Super Bowl Rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, which is widely expected to be one of the most-watched games of the regular season.
This incident came in Week 1 following an offseason in which the NFL emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, with league officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson claiming that unsportsmanlike gestures were up 133% during the 2024 season.
“The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It’s just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas,” he added, per The NFL.