Abdul Carter was benched once more under interim head coach Mike Kafka during the opening quarter of yesterday’s game. Few details about the incident have been confirmed, but the rookie spoke about the situation after the Giants’ loss. 
Tardiness for meetings and other team events has been an issue throughout the season in Carter’s case. The No. 3 pick was benched for one series in Kafka’s first game at the helm. Acclimating to the day-to-day workload of an NFL player is an adjustment period for all rookies, but Carter acknowledged the need for improvement moving forward.
“I guess you can say that. But I’m not going to use that as an excuse,” Carter said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “Like I said, I have to be better. I have to take pride in what I do, be where I have to be at. Simple as that.”
Things have largely not gone according to plan for the 22-year-old so far. Carter has posted just 1.5 sacks in 2025 despite logging a snap share of 72%. He has managed to record 17 pressures and 13 QB hits in that span, and it will be interesting to see if that translates to an uptick in sack production down the stretch. In any event, avoiding any further team discipline will be a key goal for Carter.
The Giants are 2-11 on the year, and their defense has struggled in several categories before and after Shane Bowen‘s firing. The team sits 14th in the NFL in sacks with 29, and New York’s pass rush trio of Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux was expected to be productive entering the season. Burns has enjoyed a career year with 13 sacks and counting, although Thibodeaux has missed three straight games and it is unclear when he will be able to return.
In the event Thibodeaux departs in free agency this year, Carter will be tasked with serving in a full-time starting role alongside Burns for the foreseeable future. Improvement in Year 2 will of course be sought out, but in the meantime the matter of any further team discipline will be something to watch for.
“I have to take pride in what I do” and then continues to miss meetings.
I’m so happy LT and Simms didn’t unretire their numbers for Tardy Carty.
“Acclimating to the day-to-day workload of an NFL player is an adjustment period for all rookies…”
What adjustment? Are we going to pretend there were not team meetings with set times at Penn State?
Maybe Franklin was letting the star players coast when it comes to the details, wouldn’t be the first college coach to do so.
Maybe he’s just missing meetings. Quit digging for an excuse.
I dunno, sounds more like an explanation than an excuse. Let’s be fair, he never endorsed that approach-if that’s Franklin even did to begin with.
That’s not an adjustment that’s learning consequences for doing whatever you please.
It’s not a great look for him, but it’s also not the end of the world that a 22-year old needs to work on his professional habits.
He’s got the right job to be slapped on the hand and coddled, that’s for sure.
What do you want them to do, suspend him?
More excuses for players’ bad and/or irresponsible behaviour, Ooof? It’s clear you’re not the guy signing cheques.
Anyone making a million dollars better be showing up for meetings.
lol Here you come sniffing after me again. Of course he should be showing up for meetings on time. Of course he needs to do better than this. I’m also not clutching my pearls too hard that a 22-year old needs to mature. he absolutely needs to mature and improve his professional habits (which I included in my initial comment), but people on this site are acting like he’s going to be a bust because of this stuff, which is a silly overreaction.
I’m tired of your excuses for bad behaviour, your endless suggestions that players should break their contracts, and your non-stop encouragement to players lower their already low integrity. Thug life cheerleader.
Abdul Carter better learn to make his meetings. Johnny Manziel was a better prospect coming into the NFL, he’d just won a Heisman but he had trouble making meetings too.
Thug life? Johnny Manziel was a better prospect? Quit getting mad at me for things I only said in your imagination and get a hold of yourself.
lmao Johnny Manziel was not a better prospect. He went #22 overall. Carter went #3.
And Oooof is right. This doesn’t mean much, especially when it has been reported that Daboll was lax and not a disciplinarian. It is notable that we’re only hearing about this stuff since Kafka took over. Carter learned one (wrong) way to do things in the NFL under Daboll. Kafka is trying to fix it.
Imagine how Coach Tomlin will react next year to such behavior
Was he 22? I thought he was in the teens. So long ago now
More concerned with the lack of dominant production when on the field than those types of issues.
I don’t think the two are unrelated. A guy who can’t be bothered to show up on time seems to me the type who can’t be bothered to do all the work necessary to play in the NFL at the highest level. Pure talent isn’t enough.
Agreed. Only one or two players in NFL history could probably do it on talent alone.
He had six pressures and a sack last night despite only seeing limited action.
so a 22 year old cant wake up and show up on time.
Well, to be fair, a 22 year old in 2025 is a 12 year old in any other timeline.
He says he has to take pride in what he does, as in being late for team meetings. There’s a bust in every draft sounds like he’s on his way unless he changes
Carter’s two-word reaction to his being benched? “S#!t happens”.
And he got flamed on the Giants’ radio broadcast by Giants legend Carl Banks. Second time this season that Banks is dissing a current Giants lineman.
Pretty tough to show up for meetings, if you aren’t on blow. LT, sniff-sniff, the good old days.
I find this hilarious 😂 this is the guy so many people said was going to the Browns at 2….was never going to happen 😂 glad he’s in NY ….. kid needs to grow up….
Didn’t they pick up Thibs 5th year option? He’s not departing for FA after this year.
Yes. This is the second time that Adam La Rose has incorrectly said that Thibs is a free agent this year. Which is ironic because Adam is the one who wrote the PFR article announcing that Thibs had his 5th year option picked up.
link to profootballrumors.com
That’s good for NYG, because it seems like they’re going to need another year to determine whether Carter is going to be consistent enough to replace Thibodeaux, or if they’re going to let Thibodeaux walk. How each one performs next year will say a lot. Carter’s disappointing year doesn’t make Thibodeaux’s exit as sure a proposition as it was before, in my mind.
Carter knows Kafka will be gone … simply doesnt care. Not a good look for the next HC.
I may have old ways but when you have a team that works together to achieve a common goal, a player isnt bigger than the team. So there has to be accountability. Reminding players give perspective and that each h player is accountability to his or her teammates.