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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 19: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs will face Jalen Carter on the field in Week 2 after the league made a controversial decision on the Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle.
Carter was ejected from the team’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott before the first play from scrimmage, risking a further suspension for this week’s game. But the league decided on Tuesday that Carter had already taken his punishment, a ruling that has drawn some pushback.
League Makes Jalen Carter Announcement
In a statement released on Tuesday, the league ruled that Carter would face a one-game suspension for his act toward Prescott — but decided that his Week 1 ejection already served that purpose.
“Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles has been suspended without pay for one game for his act of unsportsmanlike conduct in last Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys,” the league said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Because Carter was disqualified before participating in a single play, the suspension is considered to have been served in Week 1 and he will forfeit his game check.”
The league added that Carter would not contest the decision and waived his right to appeal, putting him on track to play against the Chiefs on Sunday.
The decision drew pushback, with some pointing out that Carter did have the opportunity to play in his team’s season opener.
“I mean, Jalen Carter was on the field. He was playing in the game,” noted Chicago Sun-Times reporter Patrick Finley in a post on X. “That’s why he had an opportunity to spit on a dude. This ruling is silly.”
Others disagreed with the NFL equating Carter’s ejection with a suspension.
“The Eagles-Chiefs game is far more interesting with Jalen Carter part of it. But terming this a suspension is insulting to basic intelligence,” noted reporter Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star in a post on X.
Carter had already apologized for the incident, saying it was a mistake on his part and vowing it would not happen again.
“It was a mistake that happened on my side and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said. “I feel bad for just my teammates and the fans out there. I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for my family also. But the fans, they showed the most love. You heard them out there today.
“Just not being able to finish the … start the game even, finish the game … We gonna get it better. It won’t happen again. I can make that promise.”
Chiefs Looking to Rebound
The Chiefs find themselves in an unusual position heading into Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles — under .500 and in last place in the AFC West. The Chiefs fell flat in a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, digging an early hole after leading the division and the conference wire-to-wire last season.
The Chiefs took another loss when second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy collided with tight end Travis Kelce and left the game with a shoulder injury. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the speedy deep threat would be day-to-day, leaving his status for Sunday’s game against the Eagles up in the air.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
