The NFL season got started with a bang on Thursday night … well, a spit, anyway …

Before the game’s first snap, after the opening kickoff between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, and an Eagles player lay on the turf injured and being tended to, Philadelphia star pass rusher Jalen Carter and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott got into a verbal altercation that resulted in Carter spitting on Prescott … right in front of an official.
Cater was ejected before the Eagles went on to win 24-20 in a dramatic victory.

On Tuesday, the NFL handed down its judgment for the 24-year-old second-year player, and he might’ve gotten off easy, according to some.

There will be no further suspension as some suspected as the Eagles prepare for their Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. Rather, Carter will be fined $57,222, or a game check for the incident. The league also decided the game he missed on Thursday night will serve as his one-game suspension.

NFL is fining Eagles DT Jalen Carter $57,222 for spitting on Dak Prescott. 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,”… pic.twitter.com/2KjRzgJk3K

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2025

The punishment sounds reasonable, unless you’re a conspiracy theorist, which we know there are plenty of in and around the NFL.

It could be the league wanted to ensure full rosters for the Week 2 Super Bowl rematch between the Eagles and Chiefs. Or, it could be that it actually is a proper punishment for what happened.

Believe what you will, but what we do know that the Cowboys missed an opportunity for a win Thursday night, and that should’ve been the bigger story.