Giants' Top Pick Abdul Carter Starts on Bench Again, Misses Crucial First Quarter
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New York Giants' highly touted rookie defensive end Abdul Carter has been benched for the second time in three games. On Monday night, the 2025 NFL Draft's third overall pick sat out the first quarter of the Giants' 33-15 loss to the New England Patriots. The move has raised eyebrows, given the team's need for every able-bodied player in their current losing streak. Carter's absence coincided with the Giants falling into a 17-0 hole, which they struggled to recover from. This is not the first time Carter has been benched. He also missed the opening series of the Giants' Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The team has not disclosed the reason for the decision, but reports suggest it may be related to Carter's tardiness to a meeting. Interim coach Mike Kafka defended the decision, stating that it was his call and that he thought it was best for the team. Carter, who was 22 and visibly frustrated after the game, took responsibility for his actions. 'Stuff happens,' he said, 'I let my team down. I have to do better.' Despite being benched for the first quarter, Carter made a positive impact in the final three quarters, recording his first full sack of the season. This brought his season tally to 1.5 sacks, 31 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery in 13 games. However, his production is a far cry from his impressive stats at Penn State last season, where he had 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. The Giants' loss marks their seventh consecutive defeat, but they will have the opportunity to regroup during their upcoming bye week. They will then play their final four games, with hopes of turning their season around.
