Jalen Carter faces a five-figure fine and potential league suspension after the Dak Prescott incident, with a one-game ban possibly costing a $57,222 game check. More impactful are contract mechanics: a suspension could void roughly $6.3 million in guarantees, though non-guaranteed pay can be earned back. The piece ties this to rookie deals like Shemar Stewart’s Bengals talks, highlighting teams’ protection against off-field missteps while acknowledging Carter’s elite talent and expected future extension.

Mitigating factors include missing most of the opener and Carter’s locker-room contrition, while aggravating ones center on prior fines and the broadcast heavyweight nature of Thursday’s game. The NFL’s sportsmanship emphasis and the possibility of an appeal add layers for fantasy owners and bettors tracking Carter’s status into the Eagle-Chiefs rematch.