Abdul Carter benching, explained: Why Giants pass rusher sat to start game vs. Patriots

Abdul Carter benching, explained: Why Giants pass rusher sat to start game vs. Patriots originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Giants are on the road, taking on the New England Patriots for Week 13's "Monday Night Football" game. The Giants started the game on defense, but were missing a key piece.

Rookie pass-rusher Abdul Carter was not on the field for the entire first quarter. There was a viral post on social media claiming that Carter would be benched for the first drive, but it was from a noted parody account. Then, Carter wasn't on the field to start the game. New York's defense bent but didn't break, holding New England to a field goal to open the game.

Here is more on why Carter was benched for the opening drive against the Patriots for Week 13's "Monday Night Football" matchup.

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff standings ahead of "Monday Night Football" in Week 13

Abdul Carter benching

Carter was held out for the first drive on Monday night against the Patriots. The broadcast said that the reasoning was just given as a "coach's decision." Carter ended up being held out the entirety of the first quarter.

It hasn't been revealed what spurned this first drive suspension. The suspicion is that Carter was late to another practice or team meeting.

This section will be updated if interim head coach Mike Kafka gives a reasoning after the game. 

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order ahead of "Monday Night Football" in Week 13

Abdul Carter history of benchings

This is not the first time that Carter has been held out to start a game, and not the first time in the last month. Carter was accused of sleeping through the start of practice in mid-November and he was held out of the first defensive series against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11. Carter denied that he was sleeping through the start of practice and instead said that he was getting treatment.

Carter said the confusion came from interim head coach Mike Kafka changing the practice times that the rookie was used to from previous head coach Brian Daboll.

About the incident, Carter said, "My mistake was an honest mistake. I own the fact that it was an honest mistake. I was getting treatment and I told Coach Kafka that, too. But to say I was sleeping at that time just wasn't true. And it also wasn't a trend. This was the only time it happened. I don't want anonymous sources to say these types of things about me that are untrue. I did make a mistake, and I own up to what I did."