Abdul Carter: Benched| Why is not playing| Suspended| Wife| Draft

Who is Abdul Carter

• Abdul Carter is a rookie outside-linebacker / edge rusher in the New York Giants, selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

• Before the Draft, Carter was a standout at Penn State Nittany Lions — known for his athleticism, pass-rush ability, and physical traits that made him one of the top defensive prospects in college football.

• Coming into the NFL, many expected him to become a cornerstone of the Giants’ defensive front.

Why Is Carter Not Playing / Benched? (Suspension / Discipline Issues)

Recently, Carter has been benched — not because of injury, but due to disciplinary reasons. Here’s a breakdown:

• In the November 2025 game against the Green Bay Packers, Carter was held out for the entire first defensive series. The reported reason: he missed a pre-game “walk-through” practice. Several sources say he was asleep at the team facility when the walk-through happened.

• Carter himself denied that he was sleeping, saying he was undergoing recovery treatment — but nonetheless admitted he made “a mistake” and accepted responsibility.

• Under the new interim head coach Mike Kafka — who replaced former coach Brian Daboll — Carter was benched again for the opening drive of a later game vs the New England Patriots. That benching was labelled a “coach’s decision,” not injury-related.

• According to media reports, the underlying issues are repeated tardiness and failure to meet team responsibilities — a pattern that appears to have influenced the coaching staff’s decision to bench him to reinforce discipline.

So — in short — Carter isn’t out due to physical injury, but because the Giants are disciplining him for conduct / professionalism issues.

Performance & Career Expectations vs. Reality

• Coming into the NFL, Carter was touted by many as a generational pass-rushing talent. At Penn State, his college performance and physical tools had many analysts projecting him to be a top pick, possibly even No. 1 overall.

• However, through 11–12 games in his rookie season, his production has been modest: just 0.5 sacks so far, and limited impact overall compared with expectations.

• Missed opportunities: with other defenders (like Kayvon Thibodeaux) injured, Carter could have had increased playing time and chances to shine — but his benchings have come at particularly inopportune moments.

The contrast between his high college promise and current struggles — both on and off the field — underscores a growing concern about whether Carter can live up to the hype.

What Carter Says & Response From Team

• Carter acknowledged a “mistake” after being benched, saying he understood there would be consequences.

• When confronted with the report he slept through a walkthrough, he denied it — claiming he was undergoing therapy — but still accepted accountability:

  “Was not sleep, actually doing recovery. Nonetheless that’s on ME!”

• From the team side, coach Kafka described the benchings as his coaching decisions — emphasizing discipline and accountability. According to some teammates, veterans have tried to support Carter, encouraging him to stay focused and learn from the mistakes.

At least publicly, Carter seems willing to accept responsibility — but skepticism remains about whether this was an isolated lapse or part of a pattern.

What’s Next — Future Outlook for Carter

• Opportunity remains: Carter still has physical tools and potential. If he can clean up his professionalism — attendance, punctuality, meeting team standards — he may yet realize the promise that made him a top-3 pick.

• Important to rebuild trust: With the team showing less tolerance under new coaching leadership, Carter will need to rebuild trust — not just with coaches, but with fans and teammates.

• Performance pressure increases: Given his modest rookie output so far, each game from here is more critical for him. He needs to show tangible improvements on the field (sacks, pressures, plays) to avoid being viewed as a draft bust.

• Mixed narrative for media/fans: Some see him as a talented but immature rookie learning the ropes; others view repeated benchings as signs of deeper maturity issues. His response in upcoming weeks will shape which narrative prevails.