“I mean, I’m going to keep everything that I do with him private, regardless of if you see it on Sunday or not,” said Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on star DT Jalen Carter. During Thursday night’s season-opening game against the Dallas Cowboys, Carter was ejected after the opening kickoff for spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. The Eagles would go on to win the game 24-20.
Sirianni famously never discloses team disciplinary actions, preferring to keep it all internal. Knowing this, a reporter tried to dance around that unofficial policy by not asking for specifics, but instead if Carter’s discipline would impact his availability for Philadelphia’s Week 2 game against the Chiefs. Sirianni didn’t bite.
“Everything — every conversation, whether it’s a personal conversation, disciplinary thing — all those things will always be handled privately. I just think that’s the way to go about doing team business and when you’re doing things with a football team,” Sirianni said in his Monday press conference.
Dak Prescott and Jalen Carter Got Into a Spitting Match
Mitchell Leff/GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 29: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles attempts to tackle Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Initially, it appeared that Carter walked up and spit on Prescott largely unprovoked. There was a delay after the opening kickoff, as Eagles FB Ben VanSumeren suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play. While medical personnel were attending to him, the Cowboys offense and Eagles defense were waiting on the field for play to resume.
There was some jawing back and forth between Prescott and Carter, then video replay showed Carter walking up to the Dallas huddle and spitting on Prescott’s jersey. This drew an immediate flag from the official standing right next to it and the teams had to be separated.
However, to quote the famous Seinfeld scene, “there was a second spitter.” Prescott said something to Carter and spat on the ground in front of him, drawing Carter’s reaction.
It should be noted, however, that what Prescott did is not an disqualifying offense, as NBC’s officiating expert and rules analyst Terry McAulay noted during the broadcast. It might not even draw a penalty in most situations, as was the case in this instance. There was an official who saw the entire thing play out, and chose not to throw a flag for Prescott’s actions.
The Philadelphia Eagles Struggled to Generate a Pass Rush Without Jalen Carter
The Eagles didn’t get a single sack or hit on Prescott all night — Carter’s spitting incident was literally the closest they came. It was a disappointing effort from a unit that was supposed to be one of the strengths of the team.
However, it shouldn’t be surprising that they weren’t the same without Carter in the lineup. He’s one of the best defensive tackles in the game, especially as a pass rusher. His ability to generate pressure from the interior is game-wrecking. Philadelphia had better hope he won’t miss much time, especially with the Chiefs on deck in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Eagles HC Nick Sirianni Stays Quiet on His Jalen Carter Discipline Decision appeared first on Heavy Sports.