Rookie linebacker Abdul Carter was benched for the opening series of Sunday’s loss to the Packers. Al Bello / Getty Images
New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter was benched for the opening series of Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers because he missed a walk-through leading up to the game, according to team sources.
Carter, according to sources, was asleep in the team facility at the time of the walk-through.
Being late to meetings has been a trend during Carter’s rookie season that former coach Brian Daboll let slide, a source said.
Interim coach Mike Kafka disciplined Carter for the violation in his first week on the job.
“I made a mistake during the week that was detrimental to the team,” Carter said. “That was the consequence, so (I) had to live with it.”
Carter was sidelined for the Packers’ six-play opening drive and then played every snap the rest of the game. Carter finished the game with two pressures and recorded just one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Carter’s absence on the opening drive was particularly noteworthy because Kayvon Thibodeaux, who typically starts, was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Carter played his first snap of the game on the punt return unit after the starting defense got a stop on Green Bay’s opening possession.
It has been a frustrating rookie season for Carter, who has only tallied half a sack in his first 11 games. He has had 2.5 sacks wiped away by penalties. The No. 3 pick has been disruptive despite the lack of box-score production, as his 35 pressures are tied for 26th in the NFL.
Nov 17, 2025
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