Jalen Carter, Ben VanSumeren's status for Chiefs game uncertain amid injury and ejection concerns

The Philadelphia Eagles took a double blow within minutes of the kickoff vs the Cowboys. Jalen Carter and Ben VanSumeren left the game.

Updated on: Sep 5, 2025, 06:40:32 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The Philadelphia Eagles took a double blow within minutes of the kickoff vs the Cowboys on Thursday. First, their star defensive tackle, Jalen Carter, was ejected for spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Only to add to their woes, fullback Ben VanSumeren went down while covering the opening kickoff. He had to be carted off the field.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) walks off the field after being disqualified (AP)

Eagles fans immediately voiced concerns, especially since Jalen Hurts and co play the Kansas City Chiefs next week in a Super Bowl rematch.

Jalen Carter spit row

Carter was tossed six seconds into Thursday night's NFL season opener for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Philadelphia Eagles were hit with a 15-yard penalty before the first snap from scrimmage. To make matters worse, the Cowboys scored on the opening drive on Javonte Williams' 1-yard touchdown run.

The defensive star's ejection removes him from the game. But his status for the Chiefs game will be NFL's call. The league's Personal Conduct Policy allows for further penalties, including suspensions, based on the severity of the act. Officials will likely review footage and imposes discipline within days.

Carter, 24, was a Pro Bowler last season after racking up 4.5 sacks among his 12 tackles for loss, plus six pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

He slid to ninth overall in the NFL draft in 2023 after legal troubles cropped up around the time of the NFL scouting combine. While in college at Georgia, Carter was involved in a street racing crash that took the lives of a player and a staff member. He turned himself in and later pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and street racing.

Ben VanSumeren injury

VanSumeren, who played in 20 games over the last two seasons and had 16 tackles, was taken off the field on Thursday. He likely sustained a knee injury. The Philadelphia Eagles will review his injury and publish an update later in the day, or by Friday.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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