PHILADELPHIA — The season didn't even begin for Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter before he was ejected from the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Carter was jawing with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and spit in Prescott's direction. Carter, a third-year player from Georgia and a potential candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, was assessed an unsportsmanlike penalty (15 yards for the opposing team) and ejected.

"It’s a disqualifiable foul in the game," referee Shawn Smith told a pool reporter. "It’s a non-football act."

Sportsmanship is a point of emphasis for officials to enforce this year, particularly early in the season.

Cowboys fullback Ben VanSumeren was banged up after the opening kickoff. Before the first play of scrimmage could take place the Cowboys' offense and Eagles' defense loitered around the 30-yard-line when the incident took place.

NFL Media's Kyle Brandt was standing near the tunnel where Eagles chief security officer Dom "Big Dom" DiSandro escorted Carter off the field.

"Big Dom was talking to him, Jalen was still saying nothing," Brandt wrote on social media. "Looked emotionless."

The Cowboys needed six plays to go 53 yards to score a touchdown three minutes, 11 seconds into the game and take a 7-0 lead.

The physicality outside of the whistle did not stop after the Carter ejection. After the next Cowboys’ kickoff return – Jalen Hurts tied the game with a rushing touchdown – three flags hit the field. Officials hit Dallas' Marist Liafu and Markquese Bell with unnecessary roughness penalties following an extended scrum at the tackle point.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Carter ejected for spitting at Dallas QB Dak Prescott

Reporting by Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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