Big Blue View
New York Giants rookie edge defender Abdul Carter, who was benched by interim head coach Mike Kafka for one series after missing a walk through practice before the Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers, did not start Monday night against the New England Patriots and was benched for the first quarter. The ESPN broadcast called that a “coach’s decision.”
Carter was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was expected to be a difference-maker as a pass rusher. While he has created pressure, Carter has only a half-sack in 12 games.
Chauncey Golston started on the edge in Carter’s place. The Giants rotated Tomon Fox in during sub packages.
Carter entered the game during the Patriots’ first drive of the second quarter.
There have been unconfirmed reports that Carter committed a number of rules violations that went unchecked this season before Brian Daboll was fired after Week 10.
After the half, Kafka was asked about Carter’s first-quarter benching. He would only confirm that it was a “coach’s decision.”
“I’m sure he wasn’t happy about it, which I understand, but I thought that was the best thing for the team and it was my decision to move forward with it,” Kafka said.
“Shit happens. … I let my team down today,” Carter 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.”
Giants edge defender Brian Burns reacted this way to Carter’s latest benching:
“I think it’s just an honest mistake. He’s human. He makes mistakes,” Burns said. “At the end of the day, he does have to be a pro, he does have to take accountability, which he did for what happened. I’m just trying to help him be the best he can and try to help him through his rookie campaign, that’s all.”
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post had this detail on the reason for the latest benching:
