Jalen Carter's timeline of trouble, from 2023 drag racing arrest to Dak Prescott spitting ejection

David Suggs

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Jalen Carter's timeline of trouble, from 2023 drag racing arrest to Dak Prescott spitting ejection image

Jalen Carter's football career hasn’t been without controversy.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle is among the league’s most gifted players, combining quickness, power, and polished technique to overwhelm opposing linemen.

Those traits, along with a loaded Eagles defense around him, have helped Carter emerge as a perennial All-Pro candidate. But his missteps on and off the field have made him a frequent target of scrutiny.

Here’s a look back at the moments that put Carter in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, from his 2023 street racing arrest to his 2025 ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott.

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Jalen Carter's timeline of trouble

2023: Jalen Carter speed racing incident

On Jan. 15, 2023, Carter was involved in a street-racing incident that left two people dead. Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy and sophomore offensive lineman Devin Willock were killed in a high-speed crash in Athens. Authorities said Carter was racing one of the cars involved, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Offensive lineman Warren McClendon and recruiting analyst Tory Bowles were passengers in the other vehicle with LeCroy and Willock.

Carter was later arrested and charged with street racing and reckless driving. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, fined $1,000, ordered to complete 80 hours of community service, and required to attend a state-approved defensive driving course.

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Carter's arrest is believed to have tanked his draft stock. A presumptive top-three pick before the crash, Carter fell to the Eagles, who selected him with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023: Carter earns unnecessary roughness call for flop of the year vs. Dolphins

Carter showed off his acting chops during the Eagles' 31-17 win over the Dolphins in 2023, crashing to the turf theatrically after being swiped at by Miami offensive lineman Austin Jackson.

Carter and Jackson were issued offsetting unnecessary roughness calls as a result of the incident.

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2023: Carter fined $11,473 for encounter with Chiefs OL Creed Humphrey

Carter was docked $11,473 following the Eagles' 21-17 win over the Chiefs in 2023, with the league office ruling that Carter committed unnecessary roughness while caught in a skirmish with Creed Humphrey.

Carter wasn't flagged on the play, which saw him attempt to shed Humphrey's block during an Isaiah Pacheco run.

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2023: Carter fined $16,397 for putting 49ers player in headlock

Carter was fined $16,397 after putting a 49ers player into a headlock in Philadelphia's 42-19 loss to San Francisco in 2023. Carter's infraction also yielded a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.

2024: Carter called for unnecessary roughness in Eagles season opener vs. Packers

Carter drew another flag in Philadelphia’s 2024 season opener against the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil. He was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the first quarter, a call made directly in front of the referee. The infraction wiped out a Zack Baun sack and helped set up a Green Bay score.

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According to The Athletic's Brooks Kubena, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to Carter on the sideline about the incident.

2024: Carter hit with unnecessary roughness call vs. Steelers, gets into sideline fracas with Nick Sirianni

Carter was flagged for taking a swipe at Steelers tight end Connor Heyward during Philadelphia's 27-13 win in Week 15. He was summarily given an unnecessary roughness call for his exploits. When he arrived on the sidelines, he was confronted by Sirianni, who delivered an epic rebuke of Carter's actions. Sirianni even got into a heated exchange with defensive line coach Clint Hurtt.

"I'll never get into the conversations that I have with players, but he made a play that is not part of our standard, so my job is to correct that," Sirianni said postgame. "Regardless of what it is, we're going to correct the things that we need to do better and praise the things we need to do well."

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2024: Carter issued curious unnecessary roughness call vs. Commanders

Carter's reputation as a sort of NFL bad boy precedes him. But during the Eagles' 36-33 loss to the Commanders in Week 16 of the 2024 season, he seemed to get a bad rub of the green.

Carter was whistled for an unnecessary roughness call after Nolan Smith collected Jayden Daniels behind the line of scrimmage for a sack.

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Closer examination of the play appears to indicate that Carter didn't do all that much wrong. He did push Washington lineman Sam Cosmi. But his push didn't appear to have enough force to have Cosmi tumbling like he did. Cosmi looked to have tripped over the pile of bodies that formed behind him.

2024: Carter, Commanders C Tyler Biadaz get into minor quarrel during NFC Championship

Carter clashed with Commanders center Tyler Biadasz during the 2024 NFC Championship Game. In the second quarter, he was flagged for encroachment after getting his fingers inside Biadasz’s facemask. The sequence drew the ire of Washington fans.

Later in the game, Carter sent Biadaz to the canvas with a smack — granted, it looked like Biadaz exaggerated the contact ever so slightly.

The NFL fined Carter $17,445 as a result of the open-handed blow.

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2025: Carter ejected after spitting on Dak Prescott in Eagles season-opener vs. Cowboys

Carter was ejected from a game one play into the 2025 season. The Eagles defensive tackle hocked a loogie at Cowboys star Dak Prescott after the two got into a brief skirmish.

Carter was remorseful for his actions after the game, vowing to change his ways going forward.

"It was a mistake that happened on my side. It just won't happen again," Carter said. "I feel bad, just for my teammates and the fans out there. I'm doing it for them. I'm doing it for my family also. They showed the most love. You heard them out there today.

"Just not being able to finish the game, or start the game even, ... it won't happen again, I promise."

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Prescott appeared to have spit in the direction of Philadelphia's defense, something he acknowledged postgame. But the Dallas QB said he didn't intend to spit on any Eagles player.

"I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn't going to spit on my lineman and I just spit ahead," Prescott said. "I would say he was back there and was in that sense and he goes, 'Are you trying to spit on me?' At that point, I mean I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn't spit on somebody."

Nevertheless, it was Carter's gesture that yielded the unsportsmanlike penalty and ejection.

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.