“I spit a thousand times”: Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott says it’s unfortunate Jalen Carter didn’t get a chance in the first play

On September 4, Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles matchup. On the morning of September 5, NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared a lengthy speech from Dak Prescott on his X account.

Prescott’s first line was—“Yeah, I probably spit a thousand times throughout the game. I mean, especially game day, maybe even in general, and something I guess I’m not proud of.” However, Jalen Carter was the one who got ejected. Who started the whole episode? And what did Prescott’s supposed confession convey? Let’s check out the details.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott sheds light on the spitting incident with Jalen Carter at Cowboys vs Eagles game

On September 5, NFL Insider Adam Schefter released a statement from the Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on the spitting incident that happened during the 2025 NFL season opening game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys on his X. Schefter captioned it: “Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, postgame, on the spitting incident with Jalen Carter:”

The statement read:“Yeah, I probably spit a thousand times throughout the game.

I mean, especially game day, maybe even in general, and something I guess I’m not proud of. But in that case, he was trolling, I guess you could say, trying to mess with (Cowboys RG) Tyler Booker. I was just looking at him. I was right here by the two linemen, and I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn’t going to spit on my lineman, and I just spit ahead. I would say he was back there and was in that sense, and he goes, ‘Are you trying to spit on me?’ At that point, I mean, I felt like he was insulting me.

I wouldn’t spit on somebody. ‘I’m damn sure I’m not trying to spit on you.’

We’re about to play a game. I’m wondering why you’re trying to mess with the rookie, and so when I stepped through, I actually say the words like, ‘Why the hell would I–’ excuse me, but I’m probably even more colorful. ‘What would I need to spin on you for?’ He just spit on me in that moment, it was more of a surprise than anything. Refs obviously saw it through the flag.I was like, ‘Hell yeah, we get 15 yards to start the game off.’ Didn’t realize he was getting ejected. Unfortunate that he did. He is a hell of a player. It changed our plan and our blocking scheme, as I’ve told you before the week that we’re going to protect against him. So it helped in that manner. I don’t wish for anybody to get out of the game. I’m sure he probably regressed that to some extent.

I’m pretty sure he knows that I didn’t try to spit on him or wasn’t even aiming to spit on him.

So something that’s probably going to get a lot of coverage and a lot of attention that I feel sorry for him in the sense of, yeah, I mean I know I was excited, each and every one of us are right to kick off the season and the season opener, and hell of a player like that doesn’t even get a chance in the first play. Unfortunate circumstances.

”

Fans react to NFL Insider Adam Schefter’s X post on Dak Prescott and Jalen Carter’s spitting incident

One fan said, “Dak basically admitted he spits ‘a thousand times’ a game, how are refs supposed to know the difference between habit and disrespect? If you don’t want the ejection, maybe stop giving opponents ammo to interpret it that way. Actions matter more than excuses.”

Another found the X post too long and wrote, “This is a lot to read this early in the morning, Adam.” A third fan thought Dak’s supposed confession made him more dislikeable, “Very poorly written, but an admission of his spitting first. Makes Dak more dislikeable. Especially his laughing after the incident. He loaded and caused that entire fiasco. Now, I feel sorry for Jalen Carter.” A fourth fan said Prescott baited Carter, “He baited him in.” A fifth fan said, “You can bet this won’t be the last spitting instance addressed during a game.”Also Read: