The motive behind Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter’s moment of madness has emerged in a fresh shock twist. 

The NFL season quickly unraveled into turmoil following the ejection of Eagles’ defensive star, Carter, for spitting on Dak Prescott within the first six seconds.

However, a new slo-mo angle of the incident has revealed a crucial detail in the buildup to the appalling incident. 

It now appears that it was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback who drew first blood – or rather first spit – before the first snap of the game.

Prescott spat on the ground near the Eagles’ defensive huddle while Philadelphia fullback Ben VanSumeren, who was later taken off the field, was having his knee examined after injuring it on the game’s opening kickoff.

Carter found the action offensive, asserting it was ‘hostile’ while his teammate was down on the field, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Jalen Carter (right) inexplicably spat at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott six seconds in

New footage shows that the Dallas Cowboys signal caller spat at the ground first 

Carter approached Prescott during a break in play for Ben VanSumeren to receive treatment

As Prescott tried to explain it was not his intention, Carter, the leading player on the Super Bowl champions’ defense, lost control and spat at the quarterback’s face.

The referee witnessed Carter’s action and promptly ejected the player, announcing it to the stadium, shocking millions of fans watching the 2025 season opener.

On social media platform X, Stephen A. Smith captured the essence of many fans’ reactions, posting: ‘WTH did I just see? Jalen Carter — the Best Player on the @Eagles defense — just got thrown out of the game before a freakin snap for SPITTING….SPITTING on @dak.’

‘To hell with just an ejection. Suspend that man. How in the HELL could you do something like that? Inexcusable! Stupid! Selfish! #Damn!’

Eagles legend Jason Kelce was a little more succinct, meanwhile, simply writing: ‘What in the f*** just happened.’

Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt then revealed more information on the shocking series of events.

He took to X to tell fans: ‘I was standing next to the tunnel as Jalen Carter left the field. Big Dom was talking to him, Jalen was still saying nothing. Looked emotionless.’ 

Carter is in his third season in the NFL and enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, helping his team to lift the Lombardi Trophy with a win over the Chiefs in New Orleans.

Carter walks off the field with Eagles’ head of security Dom DiSandro after being ejected 

Carter was given 12 months’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges 

Georgia footballer Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in the 2023 crash

Prior to his NFL career, he was a standout defensive tackle for the two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs.

Off the field, though, he has endured a more controversial time. In January 2023 he was involved in a serious car crash that resulted in the deaths of university staffer Chandler LeCroy and football player Devin Willock.

Carter pleaded guilty to reckless driving after drag racing Bulldogs staffer LeCroy following the Bulldogs’ 2023 national title victory. LeCroy’s vehicle crashed, killing her and Carter’s teammate, Willock. Her blood-alcohol level was posthumously found to be above the legal limit. 

The now-Eagles star had previously been cited for traffic violations three times, once by Athens Police for traveling at 89mph in a 45mph zone.

Two months after the incident, an arrest warrant was issued for Carter for his involvement, with charges brought against him for reckless driving and street racing.

He pleaded no contest to the charges and was given 12 months of probation and a $1,000 fine, also completing 80 hours of community service. 

Despite the controversy, he was selected No 9 overall by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft.