Abdul Carter turned heads at New York Giants training camp on Thursday, and he did it the hard way: by spending a lot of the day in the face of one of the league’s best left tackles.
Working against All-Pro Andrew Thomas in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Carter logged at least two would-be sacks of Jaxson Dart and also got into the backfield to knock down a tight end screen intended for Isaiah Likely. For a Giants defense hoping for a jump from its second-year edge rusher, it was the kind of practice that gets attention fast.
Carter also let Thomas hear it along the way, offering up the sort of on-field woofing that comes with a player feeling good about his day. The cleaned-up version, Carter said, was that Thomas was going to have to put in some work during this training camp.
Thomas didn’t bite on the chatter.
“That’s all defenders,” Thomas said. “They make one play, and they’re the best. You do a second, you’re All-Pro.”
Still, Thomas had to acknowledge the challenge Carter presented. The No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft looked more polished than he did as a rookie, when he finished with 4.0 sacks and had a season interrupted by a pair of benchings.
“He’s stringing his moves together better. He’s using his power more,” Thomas said. “And you can tell he just has a better understanding for different types of blocks, different types of attacks, recognizing play schemes.”
That kind of progress is exactly why Carter is being talked about as a breakout candidate. He arrived with Micah Parsons comparisons before last year’s draft, and Thursday’s work gave that buzz some real substance.
Head coach John Harbaugh said Carter has backed it up through the first two practices.
“He’s had two good practices,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “He’s doing everything well right now. He was in the backfield quite a bit.
“He’s going against a really good tackle too. I thought those guys were making each other better. I just appreciate that kind of competition.”
Harbaugh also pointed to the areas that were questioned last season, when Carter’s work ethic came under scrutiny after benchings for missing practice and being late to meetings. So far, Harbaugh said, the signs have been strong.
“He has shown “amazing work ethic and a really deep determination” thus far this season.
Thomas, for his part, wasn’t exactly celebrating the matchup.
“I never get excited when I lose,” Thomas said.
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