Abdul Carter’s Rookie Wake-Up Call
So, here’s the situation with Abdul Carter — and it’s becoming a real storyline for the Giants right now. His rookie season has been filled with flashes of potential, but also a growing pattern that the team just can’t ignore. On Monday night against the Patriots, Carter was benched to start the game — and this wasn’t the first time. In fact, it was the second time in just three games. And according to team insiders, the reason was another violation of team rules tied to showing up late or missing responsibilities.
Carter didn’t try to dodge the blame. He actually owned up to it right away. He said he has to be better, has to show up on time, and has to take pride in doing the basics right. But the timing couldn’t have been worse. While he sat out the first quarter, the Patriots turned two early drives into 10 points, and before Carter even stepped onto the field, the Giants were already down 17–0. A punt return touchdown was the only thing that kept the score from getting even more lopsided before he got in.
Also Read:This isn’t an isolated issue. A couple of weeks ago, Carter missed a 15-minute walk-through because he was in a red-light therapy bed at the facility — something he said was part of his recovery routine. He insisted he didn’t oversleep or blow it off, but to the team, the problem was the same: he wasn’t where he needed to be.
And teammates are clearly getting frustrated. Giants captain Dexter Lawrence didn’t sugarcoat anything. He said Carter needs to “grow up,” that it’s “young stuff that can’t happen,” and that even though Carter loves football, being hard-headed is holding him back. Other veterans, like Brian Burns, are trying to mentor him through it. Burns said he knows Carter doesn’t intend to mess up, but mistakes pile up fast in the NFL, especially when injuries — like Kayvon Thibodeaux’s — open the door for young players to step up.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka made it clear the benching was entirely his decision. He’s trying to rebuild a culture of accountability, something that had reportedly slipped under the previous coaching regime. Kafka even shifted meeting and practice schedules when he took over, and while most players adjusted, Carter is still struggling to keep pace.
Once Carter did get on the field, he showed why the team is investing in him. He logged four tackles and picked up his first full career sack. The talent is there — no one disputes that. The question is whether he can match that talent with discipline.
And that’s really the story: a talented rookie at a crossroads, a team trying to set standards, and veterans urging him to grow into the player they believe he can be.
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