NFL Slaps Jalen Carter with $57,000 Fine After Spitting Incident with Dak Prescott
Posted September 10, 2025
It was a low moment for the NFL and Philadelphia Eagles when the team’s defensive tackle Jalen Carter was caught spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the teams’ Week 1 matchup. It’s normal for things to get heated on the field, but this was totally uncalled for, and the NFL quickly ejected Carter from the game.
But, we knew it wasn’t’ going to end at that ejection. Now, the NFL has announced more punishment for Carter. When the NFL hands out these punishments, the purpose is not only to make the player at hand take responsibility but also to deter other players from acting badly on the field. So, there’s a bit of a punitive motivation for these punishments, too.
NFL’s Final Punishment for Eagles Player in Dallas Cowboys Game
This punishment could be seen as not strong enough, because the NFL’s penalty for Carter wasn’t a suspension. Instead, it was a $57,000 fine, which may sound like a lot of bags, but it’s pocket change to NFL stars. The NFL did make the good point that because Carter was ejected right at the beginning of the Cowboys and Eagles game, that, in essence, was a one-game suspension.
As for the incident itself, following Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren sitting on the grass with an injury after the opening drive, Carter walked up to Prescott and spit on Prescott. Carter was ejected from the game, which really hurt the Eagles’ defense, since they depend on him. Cameras also showed Prescott spitting towards Carter, but at the ground, so it certainly wasn’t the same thing.
Carter has been a superstar ever since the Eagles drafted him No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Last season, he notched NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Next up, the Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in on Sunday, September 14, and the Cowboys go up against the Giants the same day.
Jalen Carter’s Manager Speaks Out About the News: Report
ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news about Carter’s penalty on his X account. “NFL is fining Eagles DT Jalen Carter $57,222 for spitting on Dak Prescott,” he said. “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.”
Followers were quick to comment about the news. “A game without pay and a 50k fine. That is more than an adequate fine. That is than enough,” one person on X commented about the news. “He got off easy tbh,” another stated.
“What would he have appealed, the fine? His suspension was changed to time served,” another said. “Absurd not to suspend him another game,” one more added.
“FL making it up as it goes along for Eagles DT Jalen Carter,” Ben Volin of The Boston Globe stated on X. “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.”
People can debate whether or not it was an adequate fine. But, the Cowboys are looking ahead, and that’s what matters.
49ers Defense: Was It Truly As Good As the Stat Sheet Against Seattle?
Watching a game, a fan gets certain impressions. Sometimes, they are obviously accurate. Tight end George Kittle was dominant until he suffered an injury. Jake Moody was atrocious, and it had nothing to do with an injury.
Other impressions, however, can be more nuanced. Robert Saleh clearly had a substantial effect on the defense, but while the stat sheet looks very good, and the points allowed (the stat that really matters) was excellent, how dominant was the defense actually? I do not want to be negative, but it bears examination.
The run defense
The final tally was that the defense allowed only 84 yards on 26 carries, for 3.2 yards per carry. That is outstanding. On the other hand, the Seahawks' 69-yard touchdown drive had two passes (one that resulted in pass interference) and nine runs (6 yards, 5 yards, 5 yards, 4 yards, 2 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards, -1 yard, and a 1-yard touchdown run). Taken as a group, that's 30 yards on nine carries—a pitiful 3.3 yards per carry.
However, when you realize there was only one negative play, and the other carry for short yardage was a touchdown, the yards per carry was actually 4.3. That's not all that good. My eyes told me Seattle was running up the middle with no problem.
On their second field goal drive, an eight-play, 34-yard drive, the Seahawks passed once for six yards. The runs: 8 yards, 5 yards, 5 yards, 7 yards, 4 yards, and -1 yards. After the pass that left them at 4th-and-1, announcer Greg Olsen wondered why they did not go for it. They had been averaging 4.6 yards per carry on the preceding six runs, and without the one negative play, it was actually 5.8. I wondered the same thing and breathed a very long sigh of relief when they lined up for the field goal attempt, since a field goal meant a touchdown would give the 49ers the lead rather than a tie.
On the drives when the defense forced a punt, most of the plays that the 49ers called were passes, with only a run or two thrown in.
What this tells me is that this run defense is not—right now—a lot better than last year's. Linebacker Dee Winters is much improved, but the defensive tackles, Jordan Elliot and Kalia Davis, were anything but stout up front. CJ West was the 49ers' most disruptive defensive tackle in his 26 preseason snaps, playing against the opponents' starters. I would like to see more of him.
The pass defense
It was clear the Seahawks wanted to go after rookie slot corner Upton Stout, and they had some success doing so. That said, until their final drive, quarterback Sam Darnold only completed three passes over 10 yards. Most of his connections were checkdowns. That means the corners—even Stout—had pretty good coverage downfield for much of the game. And except for some boneheaded post-play penalties, I do not recall cornerback Deommodore Lenoir's name being called. They just didn't throw his way.
Cornerback Renardo Green made some excellent plays. Rookie safety Marques Sigle had six tackles. While this unit is very young with its two rookies and one second-year man among the five, the back end shows a lot of promise. Sure, Stout struggled at times, but he is a rookie who missed all of the preseason games and a good chunk of training camp. He will improve.
It was wonderful to get the win, and especially to end it with a forced fumble, and especially-especially against Seattle, and even more especially infront of the obnoxious "12th man." And it is beautiful to have Robert Saleh back. As fans hoped, he certainly made a difference. But the 49ers have a ways to go on defense, especially against the run. Winters has made huge strides and looks like a legit starter. But I want those defensive tackles to step up. General Manager John Lynch drafted two to make a difference, and in the first game, they hardly saw the field.
Still, let's relax and take a deep breath (with Jake Moody only making a cameo in this article). The first game is behind them; there are 16 more to go. And there's a lot to be positive about.
