Abdul Carter Benched Again as Giants' Struggles Continue Under Kafka
The Giants’ season has been full of growing pains, and Monday night offered another chapter in that story - this one centered around rookie linebacker Abdul Carter. For the second time in three games, Carter found himself on the bench to start the game, a decision made by head coach Mike Kafka. The timing, the optics, and the performance on the field all raise questions about where things stand for one of the Giants’ most highly touted young players.
It appears as if #Giants rookie OLB Abdul Carter, who was benched earlier this season for missing a walk thru (and repeated meeting tardiness) has once again been benched.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) December 2, 2025
He has not been on the field for New York's first drive.
Unbelievable.
Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was expected to be a cornerstone of the Giants’ defensive rebuild. Instead, he’s been watching from the sidelines during key moments.
Giants are calling Abdul Carter not playing a "coach's decision," per ESPN's Laura Rutledge. Plan is for him to play at some point.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 2, 2025
Carter still not in game as the first quarter comes close to a conclusion. This is not good for the No. 3 overall pick, who was previous benched.
Monday’s benching against the Patriots marked the second instance in recent weeks where Carter was held out of the starting lineup. Two weeks ago, in a loss to the Packers, he was also benched to start the game.
At the time, reports surfaced that Carter had missed a walkthrough, allegedly because he overslept - a claim he pushed back on, saying he had been receiving treatment instead.
Source: #Giants Abdul Carter was benched again for missing all/part of a team responsibility, a league source tells me. That's twice in three games under interim head coach Mike Kafka.
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) December 2, 2025
Part of a recurring theme this season.@On3Richie was on this yesterday.
This time, there was no public explanation, just the decision. Carter sat out the entire first quarter while the Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 lead, putting the Giants in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Whether it was disciplinary or performance-related, the message was clear: Kafka is sending a signal, and Carter is on the receiving end.
It’s a surprising development for a player who entered the league with sky-high expectations. Carter made headlines even before his first snap, reportedly considering a request to wear Lawrence Taylor’s iconic - and retired - No. 56 jersey. He ultimately opted for No. 51, but the ambition said a lot about how Carter saw himself: not just as a good player, but as a generational one.
So far, the production hasn’t matched the hype. Through 12 games, Carter has logged just 27 tackles - tied for 10th on the team - and has only half a sack to his name.
For a player drafted to be a disruptive force off the edge, those numbers are underwhelming. And for a team that desperately needs playmakers, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
The Giants, now sitting at 2-10, parted ways with their previous head coach in November, handing the reins to Kafka in hopes of sparking something - anything - in a lost season. But the early returns have been more of the same: inconsistent play, flat starts, and a roster full of question marks heading into the final stretch.
Carter’s benching is just one piece of a larger puzzle for the Giants. Is this a rookie learning the hard way?
A coaching staff setting a tone? Or a sign that the transition to the NFL is proving more difficult than anticipated for a player who dominated at the college level?
Whatever the answer, the spotlight remains firmly on Carter - not for the game-changing plays he was drafted to make, but for the ones he hasn’t. And until that changes, the questions will keep coming.