Carter ejected for spitting as Eagles open with win

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting as the NFL champions beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 in a feisty season opener that included a 65-minute delay because of lightning.

Carter was dismissed for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott shortly after the opening kick-off at Lincoln Financial Field, with play paused because of an injury to Philadelphia's Ben VanSumeren.

"You know, it was a mistake that happened on my side and it just won't happen again," said Carter after the game.

"I feel bad for my team-mates and the fans out there. You know, I'm doing it for them. I'm doing it for my family also but the fans, they show the most love. You heard them out there."

Prescott was seen spitting on the floor immediately before the incident and the 32-year-old believes Carter, 24, thought it was aimed at him.

"I guess I needed to spit and I wasn't going to spit on my linemen," Prescott said. "I just spit ahead and he goes 'You're trying to spit on me?'

"At that point I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn't spit on somebody. I'm definitely not trying to spit on you. Like, we're about to play a game.

"And he just spit on me in that moment and it was more of a surprise than anything."

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said conversations with Carter - the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft - and any potential team discipline would be kept private. Asked about any punishment from the league, he added: "We will handle it."

It was the first of many undisciplined moments for the Eagles, who committed nine penalties for 110 yards.

But the Cowboys were unable to take advantage, with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completing 19 of 23 passes and scrambling for two touchdowns, before running back Saquon Barkley added another to put the champions in front for the first time.

The visitors' comeback hopes were hindered by the lengthy delay because of lightning with four minutes 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

When the players returned at 23:30 local time, neither side could generate any momentum and no more points were scored.

Jalen Carter joined the Philadelphia Eagles with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft