Eagles' Jalen Carter, Cowboys' Dak Prescott address controversial spitting incidents

The most-discussed moment from Thursday night's regular-season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys involved Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter getting ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before Prescott took the game's first snap. 

Later in the evening, a video showed that Prescott initially spat on the ground in Carter's direction before the signal-caller was struck. Nevertheless, Carter apologized for his actions after Philadelphia's 24-20 win. 

Jalen Carter apologizes for spitting incident

"It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won't happen again," Carter said following the game, per ESPN's Tim McManus. "I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there. I'm doing it for them. ... Not being able to start the game, even finish the game, it (expletive) me up, but we're going to get it better. It won't happen again. I can make that promise."

Carter may or may not have had more than remorse on his mind when he offered those comments. Shortly after he was tossed from the contest, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported that "the manner in which Carter handles the situation after the game" could determine whether or not the defensive star is suspended by the league for his actions. 

"If he’s anything other than fully contrite," Florio continued, "the league may decide to send a message stronger than the de facto one-game suspension Carter received by being sent to the showers without playing a single play. As one source pointed out to PFT, the most talked-about topic of the offseason with clubs and players was 'respect for the opponent.'"

Dak Prescott denies any wrongdoing

As for Prescott, he insisted he never intended to aim his spit toward Carter or any other Eagles players. 

"I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn't going to spit on my linemen, so I just spit ahead," Prescott explained after Dallas' loss, according to Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "[Carter] asked or goes, 'Are you trying to spit on me?' At that point, I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn't spit on somebody, and I'm (expletive) sure not trying to spit on you...I wasn't trying to spit on him or was even aiming to spit on him."

The Eagles will now enjoy a bit of a break before they begin preparing for their Week 2 matchup at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14. It remains to be seen if Carter will be available to play in that Super Bowl LIX rematch.