Rookie pass-rusher Abdul Carter was held out of the opening quarter for the second time in three games, reportedly for missing a team responsibility.
Monday night against the New England Patriots, the Giants opened without Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter missed the first quarter after reportedly failing to meet a team responsibility, a move interim head coach Mike Kafka described simply as his decision.
This marks the second time in just three games that Carter has been benched. In mid-November, he sat out the opening series against the Green Bay Packers after reportedly sleeping through a walkthrough.
When asked why he was benched after Monday’s game, Carter offered little detail. “Shit happens,” he said. “I ain’t gonna get into detail.”
Abdul Carter keep your composure at all times. I get it with the beat writers asking you the same question, but keep your composure. You got this young Sith Lord!! https://t.co/w06egInkIh
— NYG Rise 💪🏾✌🏾🏈 (@NYGRise) December 2, 2025
On-field production hasn’t matched expectations
Carter entered the game with only 0.5 sacks across 12 games, far from the production expected from a top-three pick.
Even when he’s available, the pressure has been on: with veteran edge players injured or underperforming, the spotlight has been brighter than ever.
C-Mac says this HAS to be the finale wake-up call for Abdul Carter!@CMacWFAN pic.twitter.com/YKbm4uJOfe
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) December 2, 2025
Against New England, when Carter finally entered the game in the second quarter, he recorded a sack and several tackles, a glimpse of his upside, but not enough to erase growing concerns.
What this means for Carter, the Giants, and the bigger picture
For Carter, the repeated benchings are more than just temporary setbacks; they’re warning signs. As a high draft pick with lofty expectations, maturity and consistency are nearly as important as raw talent.
The message from leadership appears to be clear: meeting obligations matters.
For the Giants, the timing is especially painful. The defense has already been thin in pass-rush talent. With Carter sidelined early and production lagging, the team’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks suffers.
Mike Kafka said benching Abdul Carter for the 2nd time in 3 weeks was “his decision” based on “how he looked during the week.” Doesn’t confirm the report that Carter missed a team event.
Carter later said “shit happens.” #Giants pic.twitter.com/jNi2iJZvQE
— Greg Johnson (@gregp_j) December 2, 2025
Question marks now hang over whether Carter can stay on the field consistently enough to justify his draft status.
Long term, this could impact how future coaching regimes view Carter’s reliability and work ethic, not just his physical gifts.
If he can’t clean up his discipline, the risk is that he becomes known as “the boom-or-bust first-rounder” rather than “team cornerstone.”
