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.