Report: Jalen Carter will not face suspension after Spit-Gate

The drama around Jalen Carter has officially been put to bed, for now. After his ejection in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over Dallas, there was plenty of speculation about whether the league would suspend him for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. But according to USA Today’s Jarrett Bell, a suspension isn’t on the table.

While there has been no official word from the NFL, a decision is expected to come Monday. If USA Today is on the money, Carter will just get a fine.

What Happened With Jalen Carter and Dak Prescott

Crazy that NBC sat on this footage for three quarters. 💀 #DakSpitFirst | #PrescottFiles pic.twitter.com/QCgkRhmLGE

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) September 5, 2025

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The incident went down in the first quarter after Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren was injured on the opening kickoff. While players gathered on the field, Jalen Carter exchanged words with Dak Prescott and ended up spitting in his direction. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and tossed before ever taking a snap.

Referee Shawn Smith called it a “disqualifiable foul” and a “non-football act,” which lined up with the NFL’s new push to emphasize sportsmanship this season.

Carter’s Response

After the game, Jalen Carter didn’t run from the incident. He admitted fault, telling reporters:

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

In other words, Carter knows he crossed the line, but he’s owning it and pledging to move forward.

Dak’s Side of the Story

Prescott gave his own version, saying Carter “was trolling” near the line, and that’s when Dak spit in Carter’s direction. Carter askled if he was spitting at him, Dak played dumb, then Carter did what he did.

Why No Suspension?

Despite the ugly look, the NFL has a long history of handling spitting incidents with fines rather than suspensions.

Carter’s ejection itself served as a form of punishment, and per USA Today’s report, the league believes that’s enough. The expectation now is that Carter will be fined, likely the equivalent of a game check, but he’ll be good to go for the Eagles’ Week 2 showdown against Kansas City in a Super Bowl LIX rematch.

Philly fans can breathe again: Jalen Carter will be lining up in Arrowhead. The league will probably take some money out of his pocket, but that’s a price worth paying to have him collapsing the pocket against Patrick Mahomes.

So while Dallas fans might cry about “sportsmanship,” the Eagles still have their young wrecking ball ready to roll next Sunday.