EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter was held out of the team’s first defensive series in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers because he fell asleep at the team facility and missed a walk-through earlier in the week, a source told ESPN.
Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, played the remainder of the game after the one-series punishment, finishing with one tackle, one QB hit, and two pressures in 45 snaps. He took accountability postgame, saying he had to “accept the consequences.”
On Monday, Carter pushed back on reports that he was sleeping during the walk-through itself.
“Was not sleep, actually doing recovery,” he wrote on social media. “Nonetheless that’s on ME!”
He followed up with another post: “When the hate don’t work they start telling lies!”
The incident reportedly fits a pattern of tardiness to meetings during Carter’s rookie year under former head coach Brian Daboll, who was fired last week. Interim coach Mike Kafka elected to bench Carter for the opening series, with practice-squad call-up Tomon Fox starting in his place alongside the injured Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Through 11 games, Carter has just 0.5 sacks (with multiple others wiped out by penalties) in what has been a challenging first season.
The 2-9 Giants, losers of five straight, travel to Detroit to face the Lions in Week 12.
