Giants’ Rookie Abdul Carter Benched After Missing Walk-Through

East Rutherford, New Jersey – New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter was benched for the opening series of Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers after he missed a walk-through, according to team sources.

Sources revealed that Carter was asleep at the team facility during the scheduled walk-through prior to the game. This incident marked a continuation of a troubling pattern for the rookie, who has reportedly been late to meetings throughout his first NFL season.

Former Giants coach Brian Daboll had previously tolerated these punctuality issues. However, interim coach Mike Kafka chose to discipline Carter in his inaugural week as head coach. “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 sat out during the Packers’ six-play opening drive but participated in every snap for the remainder of the game. He ended the day with two pressures, one tackle, and one quarterback hit.

His absence during the crucial opening drive was especially significant since Kayvon Thibodeaux, usually the starting linebacker, was out due to a shoulder injury. Carter finally took the field for his first snap during the punt return unit after the Giants defense stopped Green Bay on its opening possession.

This rookie season has been challenging for Carter, who has recorded just half a sack over his first 11 games. He had 2.5 sacks that were nullified by penalties. Despite the limited statistical output, his 35 pressures rank him 26th in the NFL, demonstrating his potential impact on the field.