PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles standout defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from Thursday night's 24-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys before the first play from scrimmage.
After the opening kickoff, there was an injury delay for Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren, who remained on the ground for several minutes. During that time, Carter and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott got face-to-face, and Carter spit on Prescott as the two began to separate.
"It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won't happen again," Carter said after the game. "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 f---ed me up, but we're going to get it better. It won't happen again. I can make that promise."
Later, video showed Prescott spitting in the direction of Carter and the Eagles' defense before Carter spit on him.
Prescott characterized the situation as a misunderstanding that escalated, saying he frequently spits during games and spit ahead to avoid his linemen while watching Carter "mess with" rookie guard Tyler Booker. He said that Carter asked, "Are you trying to spit on me?" and that he took offense to the notion.
"I wouldn't spit on somebody," Prescott said. "I stepped through, [and] I actually said words like, 'The hell -- excuse me, but probably even more colorful -- what would I need to spit on you for?' And he just spit on me in that moment. It was more of a surprise than anything."
After Carter spit, Prescott quickly motioned to a nearby official, who threw the flag and ejected Carter for unsportsmanlike conduct six seconds into the NFL season opener. Fans booed as Carter walked off slowly, holding his helmet behind his back.
"One of the officials observed [Carter] spitting on an opponent," referee Shawn Smith told a pool reporter. "It's a disqualifiable foul in the game. It's a non-football act."
Prescott said he didn't realize Carter would be ejected and said it was "unfortunate," adding that, "I don't wish for anybody to get out of the game."
The Eagles were given a 15-yard penalty, and the Cowboys scored a touchdown on their six-play opening drive, capped by a 1-yard rush by Javonte Williams.
"I want these guys to play with great energy, great tenacity while doing it within the rules of the game. So we'll address that," said Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni, whose team committed nine penalties for 110 yards on the night.
"[Carter] knows we needed him out there today, and he wasn't out there against a really good offense."
Sirianni would not reveal whether Carter would face any internal discipline, saying any action would be kept in-house. Asked whether he is concerned about being suspended by the league, Carter said: "If I get that text or that call and have that conversation, we'll handle it then."
The Eagles travel to Kansas City for a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs in Week 2. Carter said he talked to his fellow defensive linemen at halftime and vowed there wouldn't be a repeat occurrence. Left tackle Jordan Mailata added that Carter also addressed the team, describing his tone as "remorseful."
Quarterback Jalen Hurts also had a discussion with Carter. He said that the two are "on the same page" and that the incident is something everyone can learn from.
"As a whole team, I think it's just a matter of taking our discipline to another level and our focus to another level," Hurts said.
Carter, 24, is considered one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He had 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to help lead the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL last season.
Information from ESPN's Todd Archer and The Associated Press was used in this report.